Ministry Of Health Expands Coverage Of COVID-19 Vaccination To Foreigners

UNSPLASH ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Health is expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination services in Indonesia by targeting Foreign Citizens (WNA) as an effort to protect the public from the risk of transmission.

"As one of our efforts to ensure that foreigners who live or stay temporarily and permanently have easy access to vaccinations, as well as to prevent the possibility of transmission," said Ministry of Health spokesman Mohammad Syahril in a written statement quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, September 27.

The policy is stated in the Decree of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia Number HK.01.07/MENKES/1368/2022 concerning the Implementation of COVID-19 Vaccination for Foreigners, starting in September 2022 in various available health care facilities.

The implementation of COVID-19 vaccination for foreigners is carried out through government program vaccinations targeting foreigners who have a residence permit or have a Temporary Stay Permit Card (KITAS)/Permanent Stay Permit Card (KITAP).

The vaccination program targets representatives of foreign countries and international non-profit organizations currently on duty in Indonesia through the coordination of ministries that carry out government affairs in the foreign sector.

Meanwhile, vaccination for other foreigners is carried out by registering through the information system for one COVID-19 vaccination data to get an e-ticket that can be obtained through the www.pedulilindungi.id website.

The type of vaccine used is the type of vaccine that has obtained emergency use authorization or the issuance of a distribution permit number from the Indonesian Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM).

"The implementation of this vaccination applies to foreigners who have not received vaccinations at all in their country, foreigners who continue the next dose of vaccination, to foreigners who want to get a booster," he said.

Syahril said the success of the vaccination program was the key to economic recovery and tourism both at the national and central levels. The more and the faster the people are protected, it is directly proportional to the recovery of economic conditions in the area.