Kimia Farma Sells COVID-19 Vaccine For IDR 879 Thousand , Entrepreneurs: If People Can Afford It, It's Legal

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The paid mutual cooperation vaccine that will be implemented by PT Kimia Farma Tbk has been flooded with rejections. However, the Indonesian Indigenous Entrepreneurs Association (Hippi) actually supports the vaccination program. Because this program is considered to help Indonesia accelerate herd immunity or communal immunity.

The paid vaccination of PT Kimia Farma Tbk is valued at IDR 879.140 for two doses for individuals or individuals. Chairman of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) of HIPPI DKI Jakarta Province, Sarman Simanjorang, assessed that paid vaccinations help accelerate herd immunity. He said that this is very necessary to help entrepreneurs get out of the pressure that has occurred due to Emergency Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM).

Furthermore, Sarman regretted that the paid vaccination program was misinterpreted. In fact, according to him, the purpose of this option is to provide outreach to people who can afford it, entrepreneurs with few workers, and foreigners who cannot get access to free vaccines.

"If there is a group of people who want to be vaccinated immediately and have the ability to pay and the government provides access to it, that's fine. There is no coercion or obligation in this program, this is only one option or option for those who have the ability", he said in his official statement, Wednesday, July 14.

According to Sarman, the paid vaccination that will be carried out by Kimia Farma company will not interfere with the free vaccination program that has been launched by the government.

"There should be no misperception, this paid individual mutual cooperation vaccination will not interfere with the free vaccination program and is aimed at groups of people who have the ability", he explained.

Moreover, he said, the government through the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) has issued regulations/rules up to the price of the vaccine. As many as 50 million middle-class people have the potential to become participants in this independent mutual cooperation vaccine.

"If this has been carried out effectively in conjunction with free vaccines, the vaccine target of 2 million per day in August will be achieved, thankfully, it will be more, of course, this will accelerate us out of the COVID-19 crisis", he said.

Business Actors' conditions are pressured

Sarman said the current condition of businessmen was very depressed. Moreover, with the Emergency PPKM policy. Therefore, he said, entrepreneurs need to get guarantees to get out of the COVID-19 crisis. One way is through vaccination.

"If the majority of our people are vaccinated, of course, it will accelerate the process of our economic recovery. We from entrepreneurs really hope. It's time for us to unite, it's time to join hands and share the perception of fighting COVID-19", he said.

Furthermore, said Sarman, his party deeply regrets the polemic over Kimia Farma's paid vaccination program. In fact, this is the development of a mutual vaccine program initiated by business actors through the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

"We really hope that we all see this program in the perspective of our joint efforts to fight COVID-19 towards accelerating economic recovery. Saving the fate of entrepreneurs, workers, and people's incomes including the nation's children who have been laid off to be able to work again", he explained.

"We hope that this individual mutual cooperation vaccination can be immediately carried out by Kimia Farma through its outlets spread throughout Indonesia", he continued.