TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian government continues to encourage its citizen to immediately get a second booster of COVID-19 vaccine to protect themselves from being exposed to the virus' variants.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin confirmed that the second booster shot would not be applied as a travel requirement on January 26, 2023, after President Joko Widodo or Jokowi announced the end of the public mobility restrictions or PPKM at the end of 2022.

Although the PPKM policy was lifted, the first vaccine booster is still mandatory for travel.

The second booster vaccination program for the general public aged 18 years and over is open starting January 24, 2023, simultaneously throughout Indonesia.

According to the ministry's official page sehatnegeriku.kemkes.go.id, the vaccination tickets are prioritized for those who have received the first booster shot six months earlier.

People can also get a second booster shot without waiting for a ticket because the recording is still done manually. The vaccine is available in health facilities or vaccination centers.

The Health Ministry allocated 9.3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines of various types and brands, including domestically produced ones such as Indovac and Inavac.

NAOMY A. NUGRAHENI

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