Indonesia Weighs Free Boosters as ‘Inevitable’ Third Wave Looms
Indonesia Weighs Free Boosters as ‘Inevitable’ Third Wave Looms
(Bloomberg) -- Indonesia is finalizing a plan to offer free Covid-19 vaccine boosters to more than 114 million people in anticipation of an “inevitable” third wave of coronavirus outbreak.
Free booster shots are being considered for people in the low income category under various government programs, according to Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto. The plan for 137.2 million doses of booster vaccines to cover 50% to 60% of the population will be decided this week, he said in a briefing on Monday.
The world’s largest archipelago is intensifying its inoculation campaign with less than a fifth of its 270 million population fully vaccinated against the virus, lagging behind many of its Asian neighbors. according to Bloomberg Vaccine Tracker.
The government has said another surge of infections caused by new variants is “inevitable” and that a third wave of outbreak could occur in November or December.
©2021 Bloomberg L.P.