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Foreigners part of free vaccine drive. But getting the shot still no easy task
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A vaccinator administers a COVID-19 vaccine to a foreigner during a vaccination drive in Sanur, Denpasar, Bali on June 22, 2021. Around 500 foreigners have received their second shot of a COVID-19 vaccine in the city. (Antara/Nyoman Hendra Wibowo)
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s the government continues to speed up COVID-19 inoculation in a bid to help bring down infections, foreigners are now included as part of the free vaccination drive.
The Health Ministry, in a regulation issued early last month, expanded the eligibility of foreigners to those aged over 60 years and older, teachers and education staffers, as well as "certain foreign nationals", from initially only representatives of foreign countries and international non-profit organizations. The regulation, however, does not provide details about who falls within the criteria of certain foreign nationals.
Eligible foreigners can participate in the government-led free vaccination program after presenting either a temporary stay permit (KITAS) or a permanent stay permit (KITAP) and passport number. Additionally, they are also required to show a registration number, but it was not detailed what number this refers to.
Following the central government’s lead, the Jakarta administration has allowed these foreigner groups to get their vaccine starting late June -- further extending the eligibility to foreigners who live in areas with high risk of COVID-19 transmission. They will also need to present a letter of domicile (SKTT) to their nearest community health center, vaccination center or general hospital in the capital to get the jabs.
Read also: Indonesia scales up vaccine deals, rollout amid devastating 'second wave'
“Most of the [vaccination] we have done has been for [foreigners] aged 60 and above as well as for educators,” Health Ministry spokesperson Siti Nadia Tarmizi told The Jakarta Post last week.
Problems persist
