Anies Promises Foreign Asylum Seekers Will Get Free Vaccination: Finalizing

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said the plan for free vaccination for foreign nationals (foreigners) seeking asylum will be realized.

Currently, the DKI Provincial Government is finalizing the proposal to vaccinate foreign asylum seekers to the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes).

"It is in the process of being finalized. We will announce the final as soon as it is final. God willing, there will be a finalization soon, so they can be vaccinated too," said Anies at City Hall, Central Jakarta, Tuesday, August 24.

Anies said these asylum seekers live and work with other Indonesian citizens. They have relatively difficulty implementing strict health protocols and self-isolation. So, they also need protection.

"We are trying to be able to provide vaccines to all, both those who are workers and those who are refugees," said Anies.

Previously, Anies suggested that foreign asylum seekers in Jakarta could participate in getting the COVID-19 vaccination. This is stated in a letter by letter Number 297/-1,772.1 which was sent to the Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin dated July 12, 2021.

In the letter, Anies views that foreign asylum seekers cannot participate in the paid Mutual Cooperation (VGR) Vaccination program. Therefore, Anies asked these foreign refugees to be vaccinated for free.

"Based on the results of the evaluation of the vaccination implementation in DKI Jakarta, there are foreigners who are vulnerable to COVID-19 transmission and it is not possible to use VGR, namely foreigners who are refugees and asylum seekers," Anies said in the letter.

In response to this, the vaccination spokesperson from the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), Siti Nadia Tarmizi said that her party had not yet allowed the implementation of government program vaccinations for foreign nationals (foreigners) seeking asylum.

"The proposal to vaccinate foreign asylum seekers has not been targeted for vaccination, but Indonesian citizens are the priority," said Nadia in a short message to VOI, Monday, August 16.

Nadia said that the Ministry of Health has not considered when the government program vaccination is allowed for foreigners. Because, currently communal immunity or herd immunity has not been achieved.

"There are still many of our Indonesian citizens who have not received the vaccine, yes," said Nadia.