Ministry Of Health Ensures Prison Penalty To IDR 5 Million Fines Are The Last Option For People Who Refuse COVID-19 Vaccine

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JAKARTA - Spokesperson for COVID-19 Vaccination from the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) Siti Nadia Tarmizi confirmed that citizens who refuse the COVID-19 vaccine will receive penalties.

The penalties can range from a maximum of 1 year in prison to a fine of between IDR 500 thousand to IDR 5 million with reference to Presidential Decree No. 14 of 2021 and Law No. 4 of 1984 concerning Outbreaks of Infectious Diseases.

"There are several penalties including penalties for postponing social assistance, postponing administrative proceedings, even if we connect with the Plague Law, there will be several penalties including, for example, imprisonment for a year or six months or a fine of IDR 5 thousand to IDR 500 million", said Nadia in an online press conference, Monday, February 15th.

Even so, the application of fines and imprisonment will be the last consideration. This is because the government is prioritizing persuasive action and education to encourage people to accept the COVID-19 vaccine.

She also reminded all people who meet the criteria as recipients of the COVID-19 vaccine to want to run this program. Because vaccination needs to be done to solve the pandemic in the country.

"So, penalties are the last resort if they still don't want to be vaccinated".

"Because we know there are rights and obligations. If a citizen does not use their rights to get vaccinations to protect themselves, but because they do not exercise their rights, they endanger other communities, of course, the government must take action", she added.

It is known that President Jokowi has issued Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 14 of 2021 concerning Amendments to Presidential Regulation Number 99 of 2020 concerning Vaccines Procurement and Implementation of Vaccinations in the Context of handling the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This regulation regulates the procurement of vaccines and the implementation of COVID-19 vaccination and was promulgated on February 10.

This Presidential Regulation states that the penalties for citizens who refuse to be vaccinated against COVID-19 are regulated in Article 13A paragraph (4) of Presidential Decree Number 14 of 2021. Written in this article:

(4) Every person who has been designated as a target recipient of the COVID-19 Vaccine who does not participate in the COVID-19 Vaccination as referred to in paragraph (2) may be subject to administrative penalties, in the form of:

a. postponement or termination of the provision of social security or social assistance;

b. suspension or termination of government administration services; and/or

c. a fine.

These penalties will later be applied by ministries, agencies, local governments in accordance with their respective authorities.

However, not only administrative penalties, those who refuse the COVID-19 vaccine will also be subject to penalties under the applicable law. This is written in Article 13B.

"Every person who has been designated as a target recipient of the COVID-19 Vaccine, who does not participate in the COVID-19 Vaccination as referred to in article 13A paragraph (2) and causes obstruction to the implementation of the prevention of the spread of COVID-19, in addition to being subject to penalties as referred to in article 13A paragraph ( a) may be subject to penalties in accordance with the provisions of the law on outbreaks of infectious diseases", the article stated.