Participate in Overcoming the Crisis

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

The medical officer prepares the Sinopharm vaccine which will be given to employees of PT Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper Tbk. in the mutual cooperation vaccination program in South Tangerang, Banten, Tuesday (18/5/2021). As many as 4,000 employees of the company are participating in the Gotong Royong vaccination program launched by the government that day.

The Gotong Royong Vaccination Program officially began on Tuesday, 18 May 2021. Despite ongoing controversy, now is the time for companies to participate in overcoming the crisis.

Certainly, in terms of vaccine availability and costs, there are still issues. The total cost per vaccine dose is Rp 879,140 consisting of the highest vaccine price of Rp 321,660 and the highest price for vaccination services of Rp 117,910. Because two doses are usually required, the total cost of vaccinating one person would reach Rp 1,758,280, excluding Value Added Tax (VAT). The price does not come cheap even for large companies.

In terms of availability, the government has allocated one million doses of the Sinopharm vaccine. Meanwhile, a total of 17,832 companies with nearly 8.6 million employees registered for the program with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin).

Also read:

> Gotong Royong Vaccination Program

> Gearing up for Gotong Royong Vaccination Program

Kompas Daily, Tuesday (18/5/2021), reported that 18 manufacturing companies have already begun receiving vaccinations from the Gotong Royong program for approximately 40,000 workers. The article only reported the participation of large companies.

We realize that the pandemic must end soon so that life can go back to “normal”. Children are back in school and socializing, families are sleeping together and building community welfare is taking place faster. In short, socio-economic conditions are restored and people can return to being happy social beings.

BIRO PERS SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN/KRIS

A worker receives a vaccine injection in the Gotong Royong vaccination program at the PT Unilever Indonesia factory, Jababeka Industrial Estate, Cikarang, West Java, Tuesday (18/5/2021)

In this case, vaccination is the easiest and fastest way to achieve herd immunity. Indonesia targets to achieve herd immunity within 15 months – since the first vaccination on January 13, 2021 – by vaccinating 181.5 million of its citizens.

Until now, vaccinations have only covered 5 percent of the target. It requires the participation of all parties so that we can quickly get out of this health and humanitarian crisis. Companies, as a stakeholder, plays a huge role. Indeed, their role relies on the condition hat the government creates a conducive situation.

Also read: Private Vaccinations Carried Out alongside Government’s Program

As noted above, the controversy surrounding availability and price must be resolved immediately. Since the beginning, the government had eliminated the cost of vaccinations for all Indonesians. It’s questionable then that once business players took part, the prices skyrocketed. It is true that the employees of the concerned companies will benefit from getting vaccinated earlier. However, apart from the right of the employees to get inoculated (which should have been free in the first place), won’t these efforts also help accelerate achieve herd immunity?

Companies must also bear reasonable vaccination costs as a “fast-track” consequence for their employees. Thus, it would be wise for Kadin and the government to sit together and solve the issues, including overcoming the limitations of vaccines.

In a crisis, all parties must practice self-control and strive together for a greater common interest; to benefit the nation.

This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia.