President Jokowi's Free Booster Vaccine, Sri Mulyani Prepares Rp117 Trillion Health Budget

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Ministry of Finance)

JAKARTA - The decision of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to free the cost of the third dose of COVID-19 vaccination or booster to all Indonesians further emphasizes the presence of the state to protect the safety of the common people.

Previously, booster vaccines were only prioritized for medical personnel, now more than 1.3 million doses have been distributed.

The decision to give the third dose equally, of course, brings consequences from the side of the provision of the budget. So, how much is the allocation of funds that has been prepared by the government to support the direction of the Head of State?

Citing information released by the Ministry of Finance, Wednesday, January 12, it is known that the procurement of the COVID-19 vaccine is included in the health cluster's National Economic Recovery (PEN) scheme, amounting to Rp117.9 trillion.

In addition to vaccines, the funds are also used for 3T (testing, tracing, treatment), COVID-19 patient care, drugs, health worker incentives, vaccination processes and activities, vaccine tax incentives, and other health care.

In addition to the health sector, the 2022 PEN is distributed to two different clusters, namely public protection of Rp154.8 trillion, and to the strengthening of economic recovery of Rp141.4 trillion. Thus, the total allocation of PEN funds this year is Rp414 trillion.

Just so you know, the Minister of Finance (Menkeu) Sri Mulyani reported that throughout 2021 the COVID-19 vaccine spending reached Rp33.2 trillion. These resources were used to procure 310.9 million doses.

"These purchases are very strategic because the benefits can be directly felt by the community," said the Minister of Finance when holding a press conference on the realization of the 2021 State Budget in Jakarta last week.