TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Legislative Council (DPRD) Budget Committee member Syarif said the city administration allocated Rp5.3 trillion for the Covid-19 response in 2021. The budget will be focused on social assistance, incentives for health workers, and vaccine procurement.

“Vaccines procurement will be a priority for next year,” said Syarif on Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. The budget, he added, was sourced from the unexpected budget post.

Jakarta initially expected that the central government would provide free immunization for Jakarta residents. Thus, the city must allocate budget to purchase the antibody.

“Perhaps it is because Jakarta has a large regional budget so we are asked to buy our own vaccines,” said the Gerindra politician, predicting that the spending will be carried out in March 2021 as the government waits for the vaccination process in priority regions such as Depok, West Java.

The government planned to begin the immunization program in Depok in January 2021. “Jakarta will likely wait for three months to buy vaccines after the vaccination in Depok,” Syarif added, hoping the program could be conducted right after the procurement.

Jakarta government also made priority groups for Covid-19 vaccination, including health workers and teachers. “Jakarta will provide a free vaccine for priority groups,” he said.

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IMAM HAMDI