Anies Asks For Permission From The Minister Of Health For Free Vaccination Of Foreigners Asylum Seekers In Jakarta

DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan (Photo: Diah Ayu Wardani/VOI)

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan proposed that foreign citizens (foreigners) seeking asylum in Jakarta could participate in getting the COVID-19 vaccination.

The request for permission for this proposal was sent to the Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin (BGS) Number 297/-1,772.1 dated July 12, 2021.

In the letter, Anies views that foreign asylum seekers cannot participate in the paid Mutual Cooperation (VGR) Vaccination program. Therefore, Anies asked these foreign refugees to be vaccinated for free.

"Based on the results of the evaluation of the vaccination implementation in DKI Jakarta, there are foreigners who are vulnerable to COVID-19 transmission and it is not possible to use VGR, namely foreigners with the status of refugees and asylum seekers," Anies said in a letter quoted on Tuesday, August 10.

Anies explained that these asylum seekers live and work with other Indonesian citizens. They have relatively difficulty implementing strict health protocols and self-isolation. So, they also need protection. Furthermore, Anies said that vaccination for asylum seekers had been proposed by the international agency United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to the Health Service on March 17, 2021.

However, the proposal from UNHCR is only limited to asylum seekers who meet the elderly criteria and have coorbids.

"With the implementation of vaccination for all groups of people aged 12 years and over, we propose that vaccinations for refugees and asylum seekers can also be given to all outside the segment proposed by UNHCR," said Anies.