As Indonesia accelerates its mass vaccination program, certain details, such as whether or not foreigners may get the jab, have been lost in the flurry of information.
Some foreign nationals have actually been eligible for the jab since the Health Ministry issued a decree covering vaccination targets on May 7. However, questions were raised on the topic this week after health authorities in Banten refused to vaccinate dozens of workers from China as they lacked the relevant documents.
So who is eligible and what are the required documents? According to the decree, three categories of foreign nationals are eligible for the jab:
- Those aged 60 and above,
- Essential workers in the education sector aged 18 and above, and
- Representatives of diplomatic missions or non-profit organizations.
At the vaccination venue, eligible foreign nationals must present their registration number, stay permit (including limited stay permits or KITAS), and passport number.
Based on anecdotal experience, it’s recommended to show up at a venue that allows for walk-in registration, as venues that allow for prior online registration often require local ID cards (KTP).
Eligible foreign nationals may receive their jab through the national mass vaccination program — which is fully subsidized by the government — or through the private gotong royong scheme, in which employers must bear the cost of the vaccine.
The Health Ministry’s COVID-19 vaccination spokeswoman Siti Nadia Tarmizi said yesterday that vaccinated foreign nationals do not count towards Indonesia’s official vaccination numbers, as they represent a small portion of the overall vaccination target.
As of June 30, Indonesia has fully inoculated 13.4 million citizens, or nearly 5 percent of its population.
Related — Indonesia hopeful 70 percent of population would receive first jab by the end of 2021
