Bali officials have announced that the distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine booster will start on January 12th 2022.
The Head of the Bali Health Agency, Dr, I Ketut Suarjaya, confirmed that the Covid-19 vaccine booster program would be rolled out in all provinces, including Bali, once the central government issues the instructions on January 12th 2022.
“This vaccination booster program will start as soon as we receive the technical and implementation instructions from central government,” Dr. Suarjaya said on Tuesday (4/1). However, he explained that the booster is not mandated, and people can receive it at their own expense.
“This program is not mandated, so people can decide whether they want to receive the booster shot or not. Bevause it isn’t funded by the government, people have to pay for their own booster shot,” Suarjaya added.
The vaccine booster will be available at all public medical facilities across the island. Suarjaya hopes that the price of the booster shot will be affordable as the government hasn’t published the official price range.
Meanwhile, the Senator from Commission IV of Bali House of Representatives, I Gusti Putu Budiarta, proposed that the central government make the vaccine booster free of charge considering the current economic situation in Bali.
“I hope the government can subsidize the program so that everyone will have access to the booster shot. Most people are still struggling financially due to the Covid-19 pandemic, I don’t think many would participate even if they wanted to,” Budiarta concluded.
Source: https://thebalisun.com/bali-to-start-vaccine-booster-distribution-on-january-12/