Those members of indigenous communities that do not possess an ID number can get an alternate ID from the local government to register for vaccinationJakarta (ANTARA) - Indigenous communities can receive alternative IDs from the local government to register for vaccination, according to an official from the Healthcare and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan).
"Those members of indigenous communities that do not possess an ID number can get an alternate ID from the local government to register for vaccination," Head of BPJS Kesehatan Prof. Ali Ghufron Mukti informed ANTARA through text messages received here on Friday (July 30) evening.
According to Mukti, the data collection that local governments can conduct in providing alternative IDs, as a substitute for ID numbers, is the same as what was done during the general or presidential election.
Mukti noted that the objective behind using ID number (NIK) in conducting the COVID-19 vaccination was to ensure accountability in vaccine distribution and control over the vaccine supply process, so it can be distributed to all citizens.
"By necessitating ID number for vaccine registration, we want to avoid the same person being vaccinated repeatedly, so that vaccine supply will be sufficient for all citizens," he explained.
The NIK requirement for vaccination participants is stipulated in the Health Minister Regulation Number 10 of 2021 Article 6, Paragraph 3 on implementation of vaccination for handling the pandemic.
In paragraph 3, it is stated that the vaccination report must at least contain the number, name, and address, as well as the ID number of the recipient.
Secretary General of the Alliance for Indigenous Peoples of the Archipelago (AMAN), Rukka Sombolinggi, pointed out that the obligation to have an ID number still posed a significant obstacle for indigenous communities to partake in the government's vaccination program.
As of July 21, 2021, Sombolinggi revealed that only 468,963 out of the estimated 40-70 million indigenous community members in Indonesia had registered for vaccinations.
Only 20 thousand indigenous community members have received the first dose of the vaccine, she added.
Sombolinggi urged the use of alternative IDs as a substitute for the NIK to be confirmed through a circular letter by the ministry.
"AMAN and the organizations that join this coalition are willing to assist the government in providing data and the documents required by indigenous communities, people with disabilities, farmers, workers, and children," she stated.
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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Raka Adji
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
