Booster Shots Mandatory for Indonesians Traveling Abroad: Task Force

TheIndonesia.id - Indonesia’s COVID-19 task force has announced that booster shots will be made mandatory for Indonesians over the age of 18 who are traveling abroad.

The task force’s spokesperson Wiku Adisasmito confirmed that adults in Indonesia who are going to travel abroad must receive booster shot prior to their departure to avoid transmission upon their return.

“[This rule] is made solely for the safety of each individual and to ensure they don’t become a spreader once they return,” Adisasmito said on Wednesday, July 13, as reported by Antara.

Meanwhile, foreign travelers who wish to enter Indonesia must be double-jabbed.

“Symptom screening will be carried out to all foreign travelers at all entry points,” the spokesperson added.

The Indonesian government previously announced that booster shots will be made mandatory in Indonesia as COVID-19 cases surge in the last few weeks.

“[The government] will make booster shot a requirement for mobility [and activities] in public spaces,” Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said on July 4.

The COVID-19 task force has also issued the latest circular on regulations for domestic travel. It sets out that travelers that have received their booster shots can travel without taking antigen or reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests.

Meanwhile, those who have yet to get booster shots must show results of COVID tests.

“Those who aren’t or can’t get vaccinated due to certain medical conditions must show negative result of RT-PCR which is valid for three days as well as doctor’s note from government hospital,” Adisasmito explained.