Do You Agree That the Second Booster Vaccine is Subject to Tariffs?

JAKARTA - The government is rolling out a discourse on a second booster COVID-19 vaccination or a paid fourth dose to reduce subsidy spending.

Vice President (Wapres) Ma'ruf Amin acknowledged that there was talk of a paid option for the second booster. However, PBI holders (recipients of contribution assistance), namely government assistance, will be exempt.

"But for non-PBI, there is talk of paying," said Ma'ruf Amin at the University of Indonesia, Thursday, January 26, reported by Antara.

This discourse is being seriously discussed by the government. The goal is to reduce the burden of subsidies that must be disbursed.

"And secondly, it also revives the spirit of helping each other, working together, the strong help the weak," continued the Vice President.

The Minister of Health (Menkes) Budi Gunadi Sadikin on Tuesday 24 January revealed the possibility of implementing a paid fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccination for residents who are not recipients of national health insurance contribution assistance (jamkesnas) from the government.

The Vice President said that the estimated cost would be affordable if the fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccination for non-Jamkesnas recipients was implemented. According to him, the government is trying to make the costs not burden the citizens.

"It's not burdensome, and then people shouldn't pay because (the vaccine) doesn't want to be boostered, so the price doesn't (may) prevent people from doing boosters," he said.