Check Out The Facts Of Free Booster Vaccinations Starting Today

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JAKARTA - The government started the third or booster dose of COVID-19 vaccination today. This vaccination will be carried out in government-owned health service facilities such as Public Health Center, central government hospitals, and hospitals.

Through his statement, President Joko Widodo ensured that booster vaccinations were free for all Indonesians. Jokowi emphasized that the free booster vaccination was carried out considering that the safety of the people was the main thing in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I have decided that the publication of this third vaccine is free for all Indonesians. Because once again I emphasize that the safety of the people is the main priority," said Jokowi, Tuesday, January 11.

Previously, the government had considered booster vaccination to be subject to a paid tariff. There was talk of a booster vaccination rate below Rp300 thousand, before it was finally free.

Terms and how to join booster vaccination

Booster vaccinations are prioritized for the elderly and vulnerable or immunocompromised groups. The current requirements for booster vaccination are the elderly and vulnerable groups who have received the full dose of vaccine (first and second) within the previous six months.

If they meet the requirements, the public can register for a booster vaccination on the PeduliLindungi website or application. Through this platform, they can get tickets and vaccination schedules at the appointed time.

The trick, first is to open the PeduliLindungi application and log in with the account that has been registered. Next, click the "Profile" menu and select "Vaccination Status and Covid-19 Test Results".

Furthermore, the status and schedule of booster vaccinations will appear in each account. Then, to check the vaccine ticket, go to the "History and Vaccine Ticket" menu.

Head of the Communications and Public Service Bureau at the Ministry of Health, Widyawati, said that there is another way if the priority groups have not yet received tickets and a vaccination schedule when checking on the PeduliLindung application.

"You can come directly to the nearest health facility or vaccination site by bringing your ID card and proof of vaccination doses 1 and 2," said Widyawati.

Types of booster vaccination

Booster vaccination is given with a different type of primary vaccine (first and second doses) received by the previous vaccination target.

Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, explained that there are three alternatives for giving booster vaccinations with a combination method. This booster vaccine will be given half a dose. First, for the primary vaccine or the first and second doses using Sinovac, a half dose of Pfizer will be given a booster. Second, the Sinovac primary vaccine will be given a half-dose booster of AstraZeneca. Third, the AstraZeneca primary vaccine will be given a half-dose booster of Moderna.

"The combination of booster vaccines that will be given may increase the types of combinations," said Budi.

Furthermore, Budi said that all combinations of booster vaccines have received approval from the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM), Indonesian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ITAGI), as well as WHO recommendations.

"Each country is given the freedom to be able to implement a booster vaccine program in accordance with the availability of vaccines and logistics in accordance with each country implementing the booster vaccine," explained Budi.