The Ministry Of Health Is Still Reviewing The Possibility Of Paid COVID-19 Vaccination In 2023

Illustration of COVID-19 vaccination. (Between)

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) Mohammad Syahril said the paid COVID-19 vaccination mechanism in 2023 is still under government consideration.

"Currently we are still technically managing the implementation, whether to pay or through government programs (free)," Mohammad Syahril said in 'Talkshow: The Future of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia' on Friday, December 30, was confiscated by Antara.

Syahril, who also serves as President Director of RSPI Sulianti Saroso, said that the COVID-19 vaccination was part of an effort to control the pandemic, amidst the provisions for the Implementation of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) which officially ended today, Friday, December 30.

According to Syahril, the primary dose vaccination coverage in Indonesia is already above 72 percent of the 234.66 percent of the target population, or has met WHO standards.

However, the government still needs to pursue booster vaccination or booster dose 1, because the number of beneficiaries is still around 27 percent.

According to Syahril, the government has received a recommendation from the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) that vaccines for children under 6 years of age are available.

"Vaccination in toddlers has been recommended by Indonesian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ITAGI) and scientific that our people need to get it," he said.

Meanwhile, vaccination in the age group 0-6 years until now is still waiting for technical instructions for implementation in Indonesia.

As is known, the government will no longer allocate a special budget for handling the COVID-19 pandemic in 2023. However, the regular health budget is still projected to increase next year.

The Ministry of Finance has allocated a health budget to Rp168.4 trillion, an increase higher than this year's Rp133 trillion in the 2023 State Revenue and Expenditure Budget Draft (RAPBN).

The addition of the regular health budget aims to strengthen the health system in Indonesia, which focuses on realizing the transformation of the health system.