Indonesian President Joko Widodo has said COVID-19 vaccines will be given to all citizens, without exception, whether they are registered with the Health Care and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) or not.

The President made the statement while handing out Working Capital Assistance of Rp2.4 million to merchants at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java on Friday.

“So vaccines are for all the people without exception, so that we can return to normal. And it also has nothing to do with BPJS members. There is an issue that only those who have a BPJS card are (going to be) vaccinated,” Widodo said.

To create communal immunity or herd immunity, a minimum of 70 percent of Indonesia’s population, or 182 million people, will need to be vaccinated, he noted.

Vaccines will be given free of charge, he added.

According to Widodo, notifications on the vaccination will be issued through the community health centers (puskesmas) or urban villages.

“Everyone, all residents, can participate in the vaccination. But it will be arranged by the village or puskesmas near us,” he said. (ANT)