Jokowi Free Covid-19 Vaccine For The Community After Receiving Criticism

JAKARTA - After receiving the spotlight from various parties, the government decided that the COVID-19 vaccine for the public was free. This was conveyed by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) through a video statement uploaded on Wednesday, December 16.

The decision to free vaccines was taken after the government heard input from the public and carried out a recalculation of state finances.

"So after receiving input from the public and after recalculating, recalculating state finances, I can say that the COVID-19 vaccine for the public is free. There is no charge at all," Jokowi said in a video statement uploaded to the Presidential Secretariat YouTube account.

Furthermore, he ordered line ministries, agencies and local governments to prioritize the vaccination program in the 2021 budget year.

In addition, he instructed the Minister of Finance to prioritize and reallocate another budget for the availability of this free vaccine. So, in the future there will be no more reasons for the community not to get vaccines.

"I have instructed all cabinet ministries, agencies and local governments to prioritize the vaccination program for the 2021 fiscal year," he said.

"I also instructed the Ministry of Finance and the Minister of Finance to prioritize and reallocate other budgets related to the availability of this free vaccine so that there is no reason for the public not to get the vaccine," he added.

Previously, the Indonesian government prepared two COVID-19 vaccination schemes, namely the government program scheme and the independent scheme. For the procurement of the COVID-19 vaccine, the government program scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) and the independent scheme is implemented by the Ministry of BUMN. Of the immunization coverage target of 107 million people, 75 million are for the independent scheme target group, while 32 million are for the government program scheme.

Vaccination targets for government schemes are health workers in all health facilities, essential public servants and vulnerable groups of people. Meanwhile, the independent scheme includes other economic actors, namely BPJS participants, non-BPJS / other insurance, and public / private participants.

This independent scheme then raises the pros and cons. Because, in this scheme later, residents who want to get vaccines must spend from their own pockets.