VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Mar. 1 -  Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin reiterated that COVID-19 vaccination in mutual cooperation by companies should be provided free of charge for employees and their family members.

"It should be given for free. The mutual cooperation vaccine would be provided by companies, they will seek the vaccine, and it should be free for all employees and their family members," Sadikin said in a virtual press conference here on Sunday.

The vaccination in mutual cooperation is stipulated in article 7 of the Health Minister Regulation no. 10/2021 on vaccination to handle COVID-19 pandemic.

The type of COVID-19 vaccine used in the vaccination must be different from  those used in the government's vaccination program to avoid any disturbance in national vaccine distribution.

It should be approved by the National Food and Drug Control (BPOM) with the issuance of emergency use authorization (EUA) and distribution license number.

The Health Ministry has set four COVID-19 vaccines to be used in its massive vaccination program namely Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, dan Novavac. The four vaccine have arrived in Indonesia.

"The vaccine (used in mutual cooperation vaccination) cannot be the same hence there is no competition in supply. We should ensure that (companies) would get the supply of vaccine other than the four vaccine used by the government in its program," the minister elaborated.

The implementation of vaccinations in mutual cooperation by companies is part of the efforts to expedite the implementation of immunization for more than 181 million Indonesians, to complete in 12 months from its previous target of completion in 15 months.

Innovation and collaboration between the government, private sector and the public would help accelerating the vaccination. One of the innovation in vaccination program is drive thru vaccination in Nusa Dua, Bali, he said.

"The more people participate in the program, the faster we can reach herd immunity. Indonesia has a remarkable social capital. This time we fight against the pandemic. Together we can get through this," he said. (Antaranews)