Travel Conditions In Indonesia Mandatory Booster Vaccines, Fadli Zon: Complicates People's Mobility

Gerindra Party politician Fadli Zon (doc dpr.go.id)

JAKARTA - Gerindra Party politician Fadli Zon responded to the plan for a third COVID-19 vaccine or booster as a condition of travel in Indonesia. According to him, these conditions make it difficult for people to carry out their activities.

Fadli said that currently many countries are making a habitual transition from pandemic to endemic. Gradually the use of masks is no longer required in Europe and the United States (US).

Fadli also questioned whether the progress of handling the pandemic experienced by countries on other continents was not felt by the Indonesian people?

"It should be at the end of the pandemic, in Europe, the US, and other continents, almost no one is wearing a mask, not even asking for a booster vaccine", Fadli wrote on his Twitter account, @fadlizon, Tuesday, July 5.

The Indonesian government, continued Fadli, is currently re-enacting strict rules like not at the end of the pandemic. It started with a plan to implement a booster vaccine as a travel requirement, which was conveyed by the government yesterday, Monday, July 4.

"Why to make it difficult for people's mobility?", asked Fadli.

The plan for travel requirements in Indonesia for a booster vaccine was submitted by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Airlangga Hartarto, after the announcement of the extension of the Java-Bali Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM).

This effort is in line with President Jokowi's orders which encourage booster vaccination to continue to be intensified, especially in areas with achievements that are still below the national target.

"Well, of course, this third dose will be required for various activities that involve the public as well as for various trips. So the President's directive to the airport was also prepared for the third dose of vaccination", said Airlangga in his statement after undergoing a limited meeting with President Jokowi in Presidential Office, Jakarta, Monday, July 4, 2022.

On the same occasion, Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, believes that if in the next three months the COVID-19 pandemic can be better maintained, people will be more confident to do activities outside the home. This, said Budi, will affect national economic activities.

"So it's better to be vigilant but maintain the momentum of economic activity rather than rushing and going too fast as a result, it will reduce the confidence of the public to return to activities and later will slow down our economy again", said the Minister of Health.