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Demand for booster shots go up as restrictions ease
A recent survey released by Jakarta-based pollster Indikator Politik Indonesia found that at least three out of 10 Indonesians were willing to pay for a booster shot.
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A woman reacts as she receives a COVID-19 jab during a mass vaccination event at the Indonesian Bethel Church in Serang, Banten, West Java, on Friday. The local health agency, the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police organized inoculation drives in places of worship to help the government achieve its COVID-19 vaccination target. (Antara/Asep Fathulrahman)
T
he news that the government is planning to distribute booster shots next year has been met with a sigh of relief by 31-year-old Dimas Tri Suseno, who, along with his wife, have recovered after contracting COVID-19 in June.
Dimas, who works as a civil servant, said he welcomed the idea of an additional dose of vaccine after he and his wife contracted the disease despite already being fully inoculated, adding that the booster would be an additional safeguard against the potential third wave of infection in the country.
“People are starting to go back to office following the recent decline in cases. This development is worrying for me, having survived COVID-19,” said Dimas.
“I would take [the booster shot] if there was the opportunity, even if I have to pay for the shot, considering that I have experienced how terrible it was to contract COVID-19.”
Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto, who leads the national COVID-19 task force, said on Monday that the government was preparing a scheme to provide free and paid booster shots to the public in a bid to provide “a cushion” for the potential next surge of cases.
The new policy would make the third dose available for free for 87.4 million government-subsidized (PBI) participants and 30 million non-wage recipients scheme (PBPU) participants of the national health insurance (JKN) program, as well as 4.4 million children aged 12.
Meanwhile, around 93 million people will have to pay for booster shots themselves, according to the coordinating minister.
