Microsoft Word - 23515-finaldraft.docx


Lentera Hukum, Volume 8 Issue 2 (2021), pp. 211-240 
ISSN 2355-4673 (Print) 2621-3710 (Online) 
https://doi.org/10.19184/ejlh.v8i2.23515 
Published by the University of Jember, Indonesia 
Available online 28 July 2021 
 
 

__________________________ 
 
* Corresponding author’s e-mail: muhammad.rafliansah@ui.ac.id 

COVID-19 Vaccinations and the Right to Health in 
Indonesia: Social Justice Analysis 
 
Muhammad Rafliansah Aziz* 
University of Indonesia, Indonesia 
 
Muhammad Alfitras Tavares 
University of Indonesia, Indonesia 
 
Chalisa Jasmine Azhima 
University of Indonesia, Indonesia 
 

ABSTRACT: While the COVID-19 pandemic is far from the end, vaccinations have become 
an inevitable alternative in combating this pandemic. According to the WHO, COVID-19 
vaccines are considered public goods. Consequently, they should be distributed equally to the 
citizens as the fulfillment of the right to health. This study aimed to analyze how COVID-19 
vaccinations in Indonesia have been practiced. Also, it examined the government’s responsibility 
to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines are distributed equally in reflecting distributive justice by 
enquiring to what extent the government’s policy on independent vaccination relates to the 
fulfillment of human rights. This study used a legal research method based on a literature review. 
This study showed that some aspects of the vaccination are under distributive justice and welfare 
state. However, the Gotong Royong vaccination policy does not refer to distributive justice and 
the welfare state, resulting in injustice, discrimination, and economic inequality because it only 
provides certain privileged citizens access to vaccines. Therefore, the government needs to 
reconsider the Gotong Royong vaccination, focusing on accelerating the vaccination system for 
vulnerable individuals and groups. 

KEYWORDS: COVID-19, Right to Health, Social Justice, Vulnerable Groups. 
 
Copyright © 2021 by Author(s) 
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International 
License. All writings published in this journal are personal views of the authors and do not 

represent the views of this journal and the author's affiliated institutions. 

 

 

 
 

Submitted: 10/03/2021  Reviewed: 05/04/2021  Revised: 01/07/2021  Accepted: 07/07/2021 

  

HOW TO CITE: 
Aziz, Muhammad Rafliansah, et al., “COVID-19 Vaccinations and the Right to Health in 
Indonesia: Social Justice Analysis” (2021) 8:2 Lentera Hukum 211-240. DOI: <https://doi.org/ 
10.19184/ejlh. v8i2.23515>. 
 



212 | COVID-19 Vaccinations and the Right to Health in Indonesia: Social Justice Analysis 

 

I. INTRODUCTION 

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a crucial problem in Indonesia ever 
since it started. Since the beginning of 2020, the world has been handling 
the COVID-19 pandemic.1 Indonesia confirmed the first COVID-19 case 
back in March of 2020,2 before it has dramatically infected citizens with the 
amount of up to millions of cases in March 2021.3 As the world experienced 
the devastating effect of a significant outbreak, a race for COVID-19 
vaccines began. In January of 2021, the first wave of vaccines arrived in 
Indonesia and was ready to be distributed.4 

By June 30, 2021, the total number of reported COVID-19 cases in 
Indonesia was 2,178,272.5 Even though the government has started the 
vaccination program in January 2021, new cases are still surging, with an 
additional dramatic increase to 21,807 reported daily cases on June 30, 2021.6 
Previous studies indicated that developing countries are facing numerous 
challenges in rolling out their COVID-19 vaccination plans, such as the 
limited global supply of vaccines to be procured, barriers to the vaccination 

 
1  The COVID-19 pandemic was caused by a strain of coronavirus (the SARS-CoV2). 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared COVID-19 outbreaks as a global 
pandemic on March 11, 2020. Riyanti Djalante, et al., “Review and analysis of current 
responses to COVID-19 in Indonesia: Period of January to March 2020” (2020) 6:4 
Progress in Disaster Science 1–9. 

2  Dewi Nur Aisyah, et al., “A spatial-temporal description of the SARS-CoV-2 
infections in Indonesia during the first six months of the outbreak” (2020) 15:12 
PLOS ONE 1–14. 

3  As of March 4, 2021, the total number of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia is as high as 
1,361,098 confirmed cases. Komite Penanganan COVID-19 dan Pemulihan 
Ekonomi Nasional, “Data Vaksinasi COVID-19 (Update 4 Maret 2021)”, (2021), 
online: <https://covid19.go.id/p/berita/data-vaksinasi-covid-19-update-4-maret-
2021>. 

4  Sebastian Strangio, “Jokowi Receives First Shot as Indonesia Begins CoronaVac Roll-
out," (2021), online: The Diplomat <https://thediplomat.com/2021/01/jokowi-
receives-first-shot-as-indonesia-begins-coronavac-roll-out/>. 

5  Haryanti Puspa Sari, “UPDATE: Tambah 21.807 Orang, Kasus Covid-19 Indonesia 
Capai 2.178.272”, (2021), online: Kompas.com <https://nasional.kompas.com/read/ 
2021/06/30/16203191/update-tambah-21807-orang-kasus-covid-19-indonesia-
capai-2178272>. 

6 Ibid. 



213 | LENTERA HUKUM 

 

distribution, and limited resources to administer the vaccination.7 The 
Indonesian government has guaranteed the availability of vaccines, by June 
of 2021, but it has counted 14,3 doses per 100 citizens, much lower than the 
world average of 37,5 doses per 100 citizens.8 Moreover, Indonesia is facing 
the challenge of distributing vaccines to many remote areas all around the 
archipelago.9 

 In Indonesia, the COVID-19 vaccination is mainly under the government’s 
control. The control includes regulating the terms and conditions of 
vaccination, procuring vaccines, and acting as the primary actor of 
vaccination. However, existing regulations provide private institutions with 
independent vaccination. Therefore, it has stimulated discourses on the 
ethical matter against the private sector. Also, it relates to human rights and 
social justice issues, mainly vaccines as public goods and Indonesia’s 
adherence to the welfare state. To some extent, Indonesia is deemed as a 
welfare state with a minimal model, where social security and welfare 
programs are provided sporadically, partially, and minimally.10 Indonesia's 
welfare programs are not as widely implemented as those in Scandinavian 
countries; welfare programs are universal with a substantial role in providing 
an extensive social safety net for citizens comprehensively. However, the 
1945 Constitution remains to have values called the welfare state with a 
feature of the government's responsibility to provide basic needs and services 
for citizens.11 Therefore, the Indonesian government should implement laws 

 
7  Abu Baker Sheikh, et al., “COVID-19 vaccination in developing nations: Challenges 

and opportunities for innovation” (2021) 13:2 Infectious Disease Reports 429–436. 
8  BBC News, “Covid: Vaccines running out in poorer nations, WHO says," online: 

<https://www.bbc.com/news/world-57558401>. 
9  Ratna Puspita, “Kemenkes: Kondisi Geografis Tantangan Distribusi Vaksin”, (2021), 

online: Republika.co.id <https://www.republika.co.id/berita/qrut99428/ kemenkes-
kondisi-geografis-tantangan-distribusi-vaksin>. 

10  This is because social security is generally only given to civil servants, members of the 
Armed Forces, and private employees who can afford premiums. Edi Suharto, “Peta 
dan Dinamika Welfare State Di Beberapa Negara: Pelajaran Apa yang Bisa Dipetik 
untuk Membangun Indonesia?” (2006) 1–15. 

11  Stein Kuhnle & Sven Hort, “The Developmental Welfare State in Scandinavia 
Lessons for the Developing World” (2004) 17 Social Policy and Development. 



214 | COVID-19 Vaccinations and the Right to Health in Indonesia: Social Justice Analysis 

 

that adhere to distributive justice, with COVID-19 vaccinations as no 
exception.12  

As per the constitution, the government is responsible for fulfilling human 
rights, including the right to health.13 In particular, the 1945 Constitution 
requires the government to provide basic health services and social security 
systems for all citizens and empower vulnerable and poor members of 
society.14 Consequently, COVID-19 vaccines, which essentially are public 
goods, have to be distributed justly to ensure human rights and social 
justice.15 The government’s responsibility to justly distribute COVID-19 
vaccines is the consequence of Indonesia’s adherence to the welfare state. 

 However, the Indonesian government's independent vaccination has raised 
concern on how the policy could potentially lead to an unequal distribution 
of COVID-19 vaccines. The independent vaccination allows a citizen to get 
vaccinated early, even though they are not part of the priority groups of 
vaccine recipients. Those members of the society have the privilege to get 
early vaccinates because they are employees of financially-able corporations 
that can afford to independently finance a private vaccination service for their 
employees outside of the government-financed vaccination services. The 
policy allows paying corporations to vaccinate their employees earlier than 
other members of society, even priority groups. It has the potential to create 
a condition where the poor and those that are not part of the corporations 
involved in the independent vaccination program cannot get the same access 
to COVID-19 vaccines. 

 Previous studies lacked the regulatory and philosophical perspective to 
discuss a vaccination rather than focused more on intellectual property 

 
12  Noah Lewin-Epstein, Amit Kaplan & Asaf Levanon, “Distributive Justice and 

Attitudes Towards the Welfare State” (2003) 16:1 Social Justice Research 1–44. 
13  Fheriyal Sri Isriawaty, “Tanggung Jawab Negara Dalam Pemenuhan Hak Atas 

Kesehatan Masyarakat Berdasarkan Undang Undang Dasar Negara Republik 
Indonesia” (2015) 3:2 Jurnal Ilmu Hukum Legal Opinion 1–10. 

14  Article 34 of the 1945 Constitution. 
15  Harald Schmidt, “Vaccine Rationing and the Urgency of Social Justice in the Covid-

19 Response” (2020) 50:3 Hastings Center Report 46–49. 



215 | LENTERA HUKUM 

 

rights.16 While the comparison is inevitable, the experience of other 
countries such as Israel, Norway, and India in COVID-19 vaccinations17 
becomes the rationale to improve Indonesia’s COVID-19 vaccination 
agenda. Amidst this discussion, it encourages the debate over the specific 
scope regarding independent vaccination in the light of human rights, 
distributive justice, and the welfare state. Then, this study adds an increasing 
insight into the Indonesian experience on COVID-19 vaccinations that 
represents other developing countries facing the same issue.  

This study aimed to discuss the status quo of COVID-19 vaccinations in 
Indonesia based on existing regulations, following their practices. It 
elaborated aspects of COVID-19 vaccination under the government’s 
control despite those open for private sector. Also, it examined the 
government’s responsibility to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines are 
distributed equally in reflecting distributive justice by enquiring to what 
extent the government’s policy on independent vaccination relates to the 
fulfillment of human rights. Finally, this study evaluated the current 
COVID-19 vaccination to reference Indonesia's handling of COVID-19 
vaccines, which are essentially public goods.  

 

II. METHODS 

This study used a legal research method, which analyzed primary and 
secondary literature sources. This method examined rules, principles, and 
doctrines to address legal issues.18 The primary sources mainly consisted of 
laws and government regulations on COVID-19 vaccinations. The 
secondary sources consisted of legal doctrines and research from books, 
articles, news, research papers, and other relevant sources.  

 
16  Muh Ali Masnun, Eny Sulistyowati & Irfa Ronaboyd, “Pelindungan Hukum Atas 

Vaksin Covid-19 Dan Tanggung Jawab Negara Pemenuhan Vaksin Dalam 
Mewujudukan Negara Kesejahteraan” (2021) 17:1 DiH: Jurnal Ilmu Hukum 35–47. 

17  Bruce Rosen, Ruth Waitzberg & Avi Israeli, “Israel’s rapid rollout of vaccinations for 
COVID-19” (2021) 10:1 Israel Journal of Health Policy Research 1–14. 

18  Theresia Anita Christiani, “Normative and Empirical Research Methods: Their 
Usefulness and Relevance in the Study of Law as an Object” (2015) 219:1 Procedia - 
Social and Behavioral Sciences 201–207. 



216 | COVID-19 Vaccinations and the Right to Health in Indonesia: Social Justice Analysis 

 

III. RESPONSIBILITY ON VACCINATION: SOCIAL  JUSTICE 
AND WELFARE STATE PERSPECTIVES 

A. An Overview of Distributive Justice and Welfare State 

According to Aristotle, distributive justice is a mechanism to distribute 
benefits and burdens among the members of a relevant group in proportion 
to some criterion for distribution, such as merit, needs, equality, and status.19 
Rawls defines justice as fairness, which refers to the social contract coined by 
Locke, Rousseau, and Kant.20 Rawls also presents an idea called original 
position and veil of ignorance that corresponds to the idea of the state of 
nature in social contract theory.21 The main idea of the original position and 
the veil of ignorance is that the people do not know what they will become. 
They would not know where their place in society would become. They 
would not know their class position or social status, nor does anyone know 
their fortune in distributing natural assets and abilities, intelligence, strength, 
and the like.22 Thus, no one is advantaged or disadvantaged by natural 
chances. No one can impose the principles of justice just to favor a particular 
condition or act partially; the principles of justice result from a fair 
agreement.23 Through these two theories, Rawls tries to lead the community 
to obtain fair equality. 

 In the social contract theory based on the original position and the veil of 
ignorance, the subject (people) will use Rawls' two principles of justice or a 
so-called difference principle.24 The first principle is equal rights to get basic 
freedoms, including the freedom to do politics, freedom of expression, 
freedom from psychological oppression, and physical violence.25 The second 
principle is that forms of economic, social, and political differences and 
inequalities must be arranged to benefit the least disadvantaged of the 
society, and attached positions and offices open to all under conditions of 

 
19  Tsachi Keren-Paz, Torts, Egalitarianism and Distributive Justice (London: Routledge, 

2007). 
20  John Rawls, A Theory of Justice (Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1971). 
21  Ibid. 
22  Ibid. 
23  Ibid. 
24  Ibid. 
25  Ibid. 



217 | LENTERA HUKUM 

 

fair equality of opportunity.26 This principle requires citizens’ same 
opportunity by providing facilities and opportunities to avoid inequality from 
the beginning, such as being born from a rich or poor class and other 
conditions. While there is a conflict between the first principle and the 
second principle, the first principle must be prioritized over the second. 
Thus, freedom of basic rights must be positioned as the highest value 
followed by equal opportunities for everyone.27 

Nevertheless, Indonesia is claimed to adopt the welfare state by referring to 
the fifth principle stated in Pancasila—the basic guidelines of the Indonesian 
government. This principle states social justice for all Indonesian people,28 
despite the preamble and articles of the 1945 Constitution to reiterate and 
specifically extend this principle.29 The basic formulation of the welfare 
state's ideology earlier—advancing the general welfare and the fifth principle 
of the Pancasila—was then manifested in the body of the Indonesian 
Constitution as a guideline for national life and state administration.30 Rawls 
puts social justice forward. He related matters where both of them want an 
economic system and justice into a balanced point between the role of the 
state and individuals, rights and obligations, and the fulfillment of civil, 
political, and economic socio-cultural rights.31 Thus, Indonesia must fully 
fulfill the rights of its citizens under social justice in Pancasila. 

 
26  Ibid. 
27  Ibid. 
28  Social justice is economic justice or economic welfare or equality in the economic field 

that can only be achieved through the Indonesian socialism system. Indonesian 
socialism upholds the principles of equality and individual freedom, but individuals are 
always cooperative with an altruist attitude that promotes social solidarity. Yudi Latif, 
Negara Paripurna: Historisitas, Rasionalitas, dan Aktualitas Pancasila (Jakarta: 
Gramedia, 2005). 

29  Preamble of the 1945 Constitution provides the basis that Indonesia is a welfare state. 
Another basis in recognizing human rights is in Chapter XA of the 1945 Constitution. 
Oman Sukmana, “Konsep dan Desain Negara Kesejahteraan (Welfare State)” (2016) 
2:1 Jurnal Sospol 103–122. 

30  A Alfitri, “Ideologi Welfare State Dalam Dasar Negara Indonesia: Analisis Putusan 
Mahkamah Konstitusi Terkait Sistem Jaminan Sosial Nasional” (2012) 9:3 Jurnal 
Konstitusi 449–472. 

31  Yudi Latif, supra note 28. 



218 | COVID-19 Vaccinations and the Right to Health in Indonesia: Social Justice Analysis 

 

 The purpose of welfare is to fulfill civil rights, including social services, to 
ensure that every citizen gets a minimum income.32 Thus, the welfare state 
is associated with the fulfillment of basic needs. It is considered as a 
mechanism of equalization of inequality caused by the market economy. 
According to Andersen, as quoted by Yohanes, the welfare state demands 
the state to have an active and responsible role in ensuring basic welfare 
services at a certain level for its citizens.33  

There are four main pillars in a welfare state. They are social citizenship, full 
democracy, modern industrial relation system, rights to education, and the 
expansion of modern mass education systems.34 These pillars constitute the 
social rights of citizens, cannot be violated and given on the basis of 
citizenship, not performance or class.35 Thus, the Indonesian government 
must fulfill citizen rights by providing social services and ensuring a 
minimum income. 

 Various aspects ranging from social security, health, housing, and education 
are the main work areas of government policies that adhere to the welfare 
state.36 The forms of social security include health insurance, health services, 
employment insurance, retirement funds, fulfillment of basic needs, and 
others. Consequently, these fulfillments assert the right to get special 
facilities and treatment to get the same opportunities and benefits to achieve 
equality and justice as outlined under Articles 34 and 28H of the 1945 
Constitution. Thus, it reflects Indonesia to adherence to the welfare state 
with a minimal model.37 In addition, the state is also expected to manage 

 
32  Jørgen Goul Andersen, Welfare States and Welfare State Theory (Aalborg: Centre for 

Comparative Welfare Studies, Department of Political Science, Aalborg University, 
2012). 

33  Yohanes Suhardin, “Peranan Negara dan Hukum Dalam Memberantas Kemiskinan 
Dengan Mewujudkan Kesejahteraan Umum” (2012) 42:3 Jurnal Hukum & 
Pembangunan 302–317. 

34 Ibid. 
35 Ibid. 
36  Alfitri, supra note 30. 
37  The minimal model is a model characterized by small government spending in the 

social development sector. Social security and welfare programs are provided 
sporadically, partially, and minimally. Social security is provided to civil servants and 
private employees who can pay. Suharto, supra note 10. 



219 | LENTERA HUKUM 

 

natural resources wealth and use it for the citizen welfare and put it in a 
sustainable welfare framework under Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution.38 
In essence, as a welfare state, Indonesia must make citizens prosperous by 
fulfilling citizens’ basic needs as human rights. The legal frameworks that 
support the realization of the welfare state are Social Welfare Law 11/2009 
and National Social Security System Law 40/2004. 

 

B.  Independent Vaccines and Vulnerable Groups: A Quest for  
Social Justice and Welfare State 

The national solidarity to eradicate COVID-19 proves that the right to 
health is embedded in the idea of universal health coverage under public 
interest globally. Indeed, Indonesia is a welfare state, so that every citizen 
has the right to health. Indonesia's government must provide access to health 
and health services for its citizens affected by COVID-19. In this case, 
COVID-19 vaccines must be provided to all citizens due to fulfilling the 
right to health. Otherwise, the vaccine therapeutics and diagnostics must be 
made available on the general knowledge of equality and affordable 
accessibility for everyone, particularly at-risk groups.39 The 74th session of 
the UN General Assembly concluded that COVID-19 vaccines should be 
promoted.40 It ensured fair, transparent, equitable, efficient, and timely 
access distribution, alongside medical tools and drugs. It is needed to fight 
the pandemic as equitable access to health products is a global concern, and 
the highest attainable standard of health is the right of every human being.41 
It is relevant to Minister of Health Regulation 28/2020 on the 
implementation of vaccine procurement in the context of COVID-19 

 
38  Yudi Latif, supra note 28. 
39  World Health Organization, “WHO Director-General’s speech at the Paris Peace 

Forum Panel: ACT-A: Covid-19 Vaccines, Tests and Therapies, the Global public 
good Solution - November 12, 2020”, (2020), online: <https://www.who.int/director-
general/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-speech-at-the-paris-peace-forum-
panel-act-a-covid-19-vaccines-tests-and-therapies-the-global-public-good-solution-
--12-november-2020>. 

40 United Nations General Assembly on International cooperation ensures global access 
to medicines, vaccines, and medical equipment to face COVID-19 (April 20, 2020). 

41 Ibid. 



220 | COVID-19 Vaccinations and the Right to Health in Indonesia: Social Justice Analysis 

 

pandemic response.42 It enumerates that the procurement of the COVID-
19 vaccines aims to meet the vaccine availability to handle the pandemic.43  

Vaccination as a countermeasure against the pandemic is rooted in Article 
28H(1) of the 1945 Constitution. This article states that everyone has the 
right to live in physical and spiritual prosperity, to have a place to live and to 
have a good and healthy living environment, and the right to obtain health 
services. It becomes the basis of the right to vaccines as part of the right to 
health. In the meantime, Article 28H(2) emphasizes that everyone has the 
right to get special facilities and treatment to get the same opportunities and 
benefits to achieve equality and justice. It indicates that the fulfillment of the 
right to health must be carried out fairly and equitably to get benefits, as the 
implementation of the vaccination. Finally, Article 34(3) accounts for the 
state's responsibility to provide adequate health service facilities. 

 As the provisions are prepared to meet the availability of the vaccines in 
responding to the pandemic,44 the acceleration of vaccination should be 
made once the Indonesian government had already excessed vaccine 
availability.45 In other words, the vaccination should be given to those who 
are more vulnerable to the virus or priority groups. Under the difference 
principle as coined by Rawls,46 those vulnerable and unable to access vaccines 
should have an equal position by being given access to the vaccine first. 
Therefore, those who are vulnerable and do not have access to vaccines 
should be assisted by the government to access these vaccines. In addition, 
given social justice and the welfare state, vaccines understood as the right to 
health should be provided free of charge by the government to fulfill the right 
to health. It considers Indonesia must actively provide and fulfill the basic 
needs of citizens, which in this case are COVID-19 vaccines,47 to reflect the 
welfare state. To be sure, commercializing vaccines violates the right to 
health, and it negates the welfare state. 

 
42  It was then amended to Minister of Health Regulation 79/2020. 
43 Article 3 of the Minister of Health Regulation 28/2020. 
44 Article 3(1) of the Minister of Health Regulation 28/2020. 
45 Article 8(1) of the Minister of Health Regulation 10/2021. 
46  Rawls, supra note 20. 
47  Andersen, supra note 32. 



221 | LENTERA HUKUM 

 

 A policy that does not prioritize vulnerable groups is also not consistent with 
Article 28H(3) of the 1945 Constitution. This article outlines that everyone 
has the right to get special facilities and treatment to get the same 
opportunities and benefits to achieve equality and justice. The measure that 
discriminates the vulnerable groups results in discrimination and economic 
inequality. It should not be a condition where only some citizens with a 
certain class of economy and those who have the privilege can get vaccinated. 
Vulnerable citizens and those with low economic capacity should obtain 
access to a fair and just vaccination. Therefore, the vaccination should be 
implemented based on the principles of justice, non-discrimination, equality, 
free of charge, and under the vaccination phases for those who are vulnerable. 

 

C. Vaccines as Global Public Goods for Herd Immunity in Indonesia 

A welfare state must prove that citizens' rights of basic needs are in the hands 
of the state's responsibility. It is considered an equalization mechanism 
against the inequality created by the free market in the economy.48 While the 
right to health is part of public service, it urges vaccines to be considered 
global public goods, not private commodities.49 It is different from private 
goods. Public goods rely on the perspective of the degree to which they 
generate spillover effects—the effect of possible interaction of the nontarget 
group that could be affected by the treatment of the specific target group 
interaction through social and economic treatment50—or externalities when 
consumed.51 Public goods have to fulfill the requirement of non-rivalrous 
and non-exclusive, where the marginal cost of the service to an additional 
user is zero, and the benefits from the goods are available to everyone as 

 
48  Suhardin, supra note 33. 
49  World Health Organization, supra note 39. 
50  Manuela Angelucci & Vincenzo Di Maro, “Program Evaluation and Spillover Effects: 

Impact-Evaluation Guidelines” (2010) May Inter-American Development Bank: 
Technical Notes 1–38. 

51  WHO Commission on Macroeconomics and Health Working Group 2 & World 
Health Organization, “Global public goods for health: the report of Working Group 
2 of the Commission on Macroeconomics and Health” (2002) World Health 
Organization. 



222 | COVID-19 Vaccinations and the Right to Health in Indonesia: Social Justice Analysis 

 

nobody can be excluded from consumption once the goods are given.52 Thus, 
the government must interfere by providing goods and services marked by 
mutual gains. As vaccines become an indispensable commodity in the face 
of the pandemic, the lack of market efficiency would not become a problem 
with how the citizens must rely on the government to provide the vaccine.  

 While vaccines are deemed global public goods, to be sure, an urgency for 
government control on their distribution becomes inevitable. Vaccines as 
public goods answer questions about equity and the importance of the society 
and its impact on the agenda for health,53 especially under the right to health 
as a basic right that the government must provide. This agenda is vital as 
vaccines play a pivotal role in eradicating the current pandemic. Regardless 
of economic, social, and political differences, vaccines are accessible to all 
under fair equality of opportunity. The mass distribution of vaccines as public 
goods, consistent with distributive justice, can achieve herd immunity to 
counter COVID-19. 

 

IV.  COVID-19 VACCINATIONS IN INDONESIA 

The Indonesian legislation obliges the government to countermeasure 
plagues under Plague Law 05/1984. It can be accomplished through 
prevention and immunization.54 With regard to COVID-19, providing 
vaccines is indispensable. By definition, a vaccine is an organic agent that 
evokes a response of the immune system to a particular antigen acquired from 
an infectious pathogen.55 It is commonly agreed that the only way to end this 
pandemic is to fulfill the need for a global universal vaccination in the 
scientific community.56 Given that COVID-19 is a plague of infectious 
disease, the government must carry out a vaccination. Then, the government 

 
52  Laura Razzolini, “Public Goods” (2003) The Encyclopedia of Public Choice 782–784. 
53  WHO Commission on Macroeconomics and Health. Working Group 2 & World 

Health Organization, supra note 51. 
54 Article 4 of the Plague Law 05/1984. 
55  Jennifer Czochor & Audrey Turchick, “Focus: Vaccine Introduction” (2014) 87:4 Yale 

Journal of Biology and Medicine 401–402. 
56  Muhammad Yunus, Cam Donaldson & Jean Luc Perron, “COVID-19 Vaccines A 

Global Common Good” (2020) 1:1 The Lancet Healthy Longevity 6–8. 



223 | LENTERA HUKUM 

 

controls vaccines’ procurement and implementation. In existing regulations, 
the procurement of vaccines is under the government's control, and the 
implementation of vaccination is divided into two schemes. The first is the 
vaccination program entirely under government control, following Minister 
of Health Regulation 10/2021. The second is the Gotong Royong 
vaccination accessible for corporations, including private institutions, to 
administer independently. 

  

A. The Vaccination Program in Planning and Procurement 

 One of the aspects of the vaccination program under government control is 
the procurement of vaccines. The procurement of vaccines consists of 
providing vaccines, ancillary equipment, and all necessary logistics and the 
downstream distribution of vaccines.57 Through the Minister of Health, the 
government can determine the types and amount of vaccines needed in the 
procurement.58 The purpose of the procurement of vaccines is to fulfill the 
national need following the national vaccine requirement plan that the 
Minister of Health also determines.59 The government’s control is 
manifested through the assignment of state-owned enterprises.60 The 
assignment of state-owned enterprises is because of enterprises' function to 
carry out public benefits. The Minister authorizes Bio Farma company as 
one of the state-owned enterprises obliged to carry out public benefits.61 The 
procurement is executed through collaboration with international 
institutions.62 This collaboration comprises the research and development of 
vaccines, excluding the ancillary equipment needed.63 By referring to the 

 
57 Article 3 of the Presidential Regulation 99/2020 on the procurement of vaccines and 

execution of vaccination for COVID-19 pandemic response as amended with 
Presidential Regulation 14/2021. 

58 Ibid, Article 2. 
59 Article 6 of the Minister of Health Regulation 10/2021 on the execution of vaccination 

for COVID-19 pandemic response. 
60 Article 4 of the Presidential Regulation 99/2020. 
61  Muhammad Insa Ansari, “Penugasan Pemerintah pada Badan Usaha Milik Negara 

Sektor Ketenagalistrikan Dalam Perspektif Hukum Korporasi” (2018) 4:3 
PADJADJARAN Jurnal Ilmu Hukum (Journal of Law) 551–568. 

62 Article 4 of Presidential Regulation 99/2020. 
63 Ibid. 



224 | COVID-19 Vaccinations and the Right to Health in Indonesia: Social Justice Analysis 

 

welfare state, the government is wholly responsible for procuring the vaccines 
as a commodity that is needed for the right to the public's health. 

 Another aspect of the vaccination under government control is the execution 
of vaccination. Minister of Health Regulation 10/2021 stipulates that the 
central government has the main power for executing vaccination.64 General 
aspects of executing vaccination under the government's full control include 
planning needs and targets of vaccination, distributing vaccines, ancillary 
pieces of equipment, logistics, collaborating on the execution of vaccination, 
and the registration and report of vaccination.65 The government's planning 
of vaccines is essential to proceed effectively and reach 67% of the 
population.66 This target is under the scientific consensus that recommends 
COVID-19 vaccinations to target 55% – 82%  of the population to develop 
herd immunity.67 

There is no detailed description that herd immunity is a particular threshold 
proportion of immune individuals that should lead to a decline in the 
incidence of infection, or others refer to it as a pattern of immunity that 
should protect a population from an invasion of a new infection.68 It 
emphasizes the increase of individual immunity to affect pathogen 
transmission dynamics and the success of vaccination campaigns for entire 
host populations for the population-scale immunity.69 Herd immunity 
threshold is determined by mathematical models that can differentiate from 
varieties of infectious agents and the geography of the places. In general, herd 

 
64 Article 3 of the Minister of Health Regulation 10/2021. 
65 Ibid, Article 5. 
66  Office of Assistant to Deputy Cabinet Secretary for State Documents & Translation, 

“Data of COVID-19 Vaccine Recipients Collected through Integrated Information 
System”, (2020), online: <https://setkab.go.id/en/data-of-covid-19-vaccine-
recipients-collected-through-integrated-information-system>. 

67  Sarah Schaffer Deroo, Natalie J Pudalov & Linda Y Fu, “Planning for a COVID-19 
Vaccination Program” (2020) 323:24 JAMA - Journal of the American Medical 
Association 2458–2459. 

68  Paul Fine, Ken Eames & David L Heymann, “Herd immunity: A rough guide” (2011) 
52:7 Clinical Infectious Diseases 911–916. 

69  Michael AB Naafs, “Herd Immunity: A Realistic Target?” (2018) 9:2 Biomedical 
Journal of Scientific & Technical Research 1–5. 



225 | LENTERA HUKUM 

 

immunity can only be achieved if it covers 55-82% of the population.70 
Therefore, this population-based effort for herd immunity refers to the 
principle of equality that reflects the welfare state. Vaccines that will be 
distributed as public goods will be accomplished through a balance by the 
state's role for the rights of the individuals under the right to health. 

Given a possible risk of short-term immunity with the newly emerging 
COVID-19 virus, the extent of reinfection and its consequences for human 
and population immunity is not yet understood. These observations are 
consistent with the general image of incomplete or temporary immunity to 
the newer virus. Certain newer virus variants will also restrict the potency 
and length of immunity conferred by a primary emerging virus infection, 
limiting the level of defense in individuals and populations.71 The eradication 
of COVID-19 would only be feasible if vaccines, with high effectiveness and 
protection and large distribution, will keep populations above the herd 
immunity threshold. Herd immunity influences the infection in the 
population to protect each person immunized. It also prevents the 
transmission of infection to others. There is a necessity for the vaccination 
to be done on the vulnerable group first. It is essential to map them out to 
prioritize the vaccination upon them first. Though there is no set criterion 
for developing the disease, it can be calculated which groups are at greater 
risk. It includes those in older age groups, minorities by racial and social 
category, including ethnic minorities, low-income groups, or those with 
underlying health problems, such as diabetes, obesity, or other medical 
therapies.72 Therefore, the government is responsible for ensuring basic 
human rights and welfare services to the more susceptible persons to get the 
same opportunity for being facilitated first. 

Accordingly, Minister of Health Regulation 10/2021 has set priority groups 
for the COVID-19 vaccine recipients. COVID-19 vaccines are prioritized 
for workers at the forefront of COVID-19 pandemic response, elderly 

 
70  Steven Sanche, et al., “High Contagiousness and Rapid Spread of Severe Acute 

Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2” (2020) 26:7 Emerging Infectious Diseases 
1470–1477. 

71 Ibid. 
72  Public Health England, Disparities in the risk and outcomes of COVID-19 (2020). 



226 | COVID-19 Vaccinations and the Right to Health in Indonesia: Social Justice Analysis 

 

citizens, public officers, and vulnerable groups in geospatial, social, and 
economy, and other members of the society.73 Those within the priority 
groups are set to receive COVID-19 vaccines consecutively. This policy is in 
line with the consideration that vaccines have to be distributed under social 
justice.74 The setting of priority groups aims to maximize the benefits of 
vaccination. 

 Although the priority groups of early vaccination are already stipulated in the 
law, the Minister can amend the criteria for the priority group of recipients 
of COVID-19 vaccines. It is made after observing the recommendation from 
the Indonesian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization and the 
considerations of the Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National 
Economic Recovery. 75 Therefore, there is vagueness, and no certainty of the 
priority groups getting the vaccine as the Minister can change it at any time. 

 

B. The Gotong Royong Vaccination Scheme: Proposals and Challenges 

 Whereas most aspects of the COVID-19 vaccination are in the 
government’s full control, current regulations provide private sector 
opportunities for administering the vaccination. In the context of health 
service, private sector engagement (PSE) is a purposeful, systematic 
collaboration between the government and private sector to develop national 
health services forward beyond independent policies and programs.76 Private 
sector engagement aims to upgrade the quality of health services and broaden 
the reach of health accesses.77 In the context of COVID-19 vaccinations, 
private sector engagement may also be applied. 

 Minister of Health Regulation 10/2021 offers the opportunity for the private 
sector to administer vaccination through the independent scheme called the 
Gotong Royong vaccination. It is the scheme for employees and their 

 
73 Article 8 of the Minister of Health Regulation 10/2021. 
74 Harald-Schmidt, supra note 11. 
75 Article 8 of the Minister of Health Regulation 10/2021. 
76  WHO, Engagement of private/nongovernmental health providers in immunization service 

delivery (Geneva: World Health Organization, 2017). 
77 Ibid. 



227 | LENTERA HUKUM 

 

families, including individuals financed by corporations.78 The independent 
vaccination aims to accelerate the completion of the national vaccination 
program. It is open for corporations that are financially capable of executing 
the vaccination at their own expense, including the purchase of vaccines from 
the government.79 Nevertheless, the individual recipients of vaccination are 
not charged with any fee.80 There are a few conditions in the administration 
of the Gotong Royong vaccination. The types of vaccines administered for 
said vaccination services have to be different from those used for the 
vaccination.81 Gotong Royong vaccination services can only be administered 
in private health facilities apart from the ones used for the vaccination 
program.82 In contrast, it does not conform with the welfare state. The 
Gotong Royong vaccination stipulated in the Ministry of Health regulation 
widens the chance of private Indonesian or foreign companies to fulfill the 
supply,83 given the number of targets both for the vaccination program and 
Gotong Royong vaccination.84 The payment is imposed on the legal entity 
that buys the vaccine and uses it for employees.85  

At a glance, it looks fine. However, it can result in systemic discrimination 
for other legal entities incapable of paying for their employees' vaccination. 
Also, it can result in disparities that imply that the poor cannot help 
themselves. There is no further information on the mechanism to deal with 
that problem. The regulation itself does not specify many details on the 
system, which will be the factor for the recipients of the Gotong Royong 
vaccine, as mentioned in the previous parts.  

 To address COVID-19, the government applies vaccines and avoiding 
transmission between infectious and vulnerable individuals by non-

 
78 Ibid. 
79  Ratih Waseso, “Jubir Vaksinasi Covid-19 sebut vaksinasi gotong royong tak dapat 

subsidi”, (2021), online: Kontan.co.id <https://nasional.kontan.co.id/news/jubir-
vaksinasi-covid-19-sebut-vaksinasi-gotong-royong-tak-dapat-subsidi>. 

80 Article 1 of the Minister of Health Regulation 10/2021. 
81 Ibid, Article 7. 
82 Ibid, Article 22. 
83 Ibid, Article 1. 
84 Ibid, Article 6. 
85 Ibid. 



228 | COVID-19 Vaccinations and the Right to Health in Indonesia: Social Justice Analysis 

 

pharmaceutical treatments.86 When infected and vulnerable individuals are 
not homogeneously blended, the herd immunity threshold for the entire 
population is smaller than under homogeneous mixing. One illustrative 
analysis of variable interaction rates within and between citizens in various 
age groups shows how a herd immunity threshold of 60 percent could be 
lowered to 44 percent.87 In epidemiology, the more significant fraction of 
immune individuals results in the smaller the risk of the infection outbreak. 
Citizens acquiring immunity to infection are covered directly and are also 
prohibited from spreading the infection to others.88 

 The independent vaccination policy lacks the guarantee of citizens’ rights 
under the welfare state. To have effective herd immunity, a proper 
pharmaceutical approach includes a vaccine becomes essential. Therefore, 
the proper and just distribution of the vaccine is indispensable to avoid the 
exponent spread and infection against the healthcare system.89 So too, public 
communication regarding COVID-19 is also vital to urge a better system to 
implement the vaccination. 

 

V. COVID-19 VACCINATIONS IN OTHER COUNTRIES 

COVID-19 vaccinations are not only carried out in Indonesia but also 
worldwide. Some countries use a public vaccination scheme. Some also use 
a public vaccination scheme in collaboration with the private sector.90 
Countries that use the full public vaccination scheme are Israel, Bhutan, 
Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and other Scandinavian countries. Meanwhile, 
countries that use public-private vaccination schemes are Indonesia and 
India. This section will compare how public vaccination and public-private 

 
86  The Royal Society, “Herd immunity in the epidemiology and control of COVID-19”. 
87  Tom Britton, Frank Ball & Pieter Trapman, “A mathematical model reveals the 

influence of population heterogeneity on herd immunity to SARS-CoV-2” (2020) 
369:6505 Science 846–849. 

88 The Royal Society, supra note 86. 
89  Sanche, et al, supra note 70. 
90 This scheme means that the COVID-19 vaccination program collaborates with private 

parties such as companies to provide vaccines to citizens. This can be seen from the 
cooperation vaccination scheme in Indonesia, but not all vaccines are free of charge to 
citizens. 



229 | LENTERA HUKUM 

 

vaccination are carried out in other countries relevant to the Indonesian 
context. Then, it will describe and analyze which system is better and should 
be implemented in carrying out COVID-19 vaccinations. As previously 
reported, Israel, Bhutan, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and other 
Scandinavian countries use a public vaccination system. This study considers 
Israel and Norway that are success in implementing public vaccination 
system. Also, it exemplifies India that has good system in applying the 
division of COVID-19 private sectors. 

 

A. Israeli Vaccination Policy 

Israel is a country that adheres to the welfare state.91 It refers to the Israeli 
policies that provide subsidies to education, health, and social welfare—
social security.92 This Israeli welfare state is a universal model mainly 
consisting of social insurance programs. The primary source of insurance 
comes from countries managed by the National Insurance Institution,93 and 
Israel defines welfare states through the vaccination program. Israel has 
signed contracts with many pharmaceutical companies to produce COVID-
19 vaccines.94 Israel started COVID-19 vaccinations on December 20, 
2020.95 As of May 2020, there had been 5 million citizens fully vaccinated.96 
About 62.8 percent of citizens received the first dose of COVID-19 
vaccines.97 Meanwhile, 58.9 percent or more than half of citizens had been 
fully vaccinated in the second dose of vaccine.98 Israel has undergone the 
fastest in vaccinating, placing it as the successful country to implement 
COVID-19 vaccinations.  

 
91  John Gal, “Immigration and the categorical welfare state in Israel” (2008) 82:4 Social 

Service Review 639–661. 
92  John Gal & Shavit Madhala, John Gal and Shavit Madhala, Israel’s Social Welfare 

System: An Overview (Jerusalem: Taub Center, 2018). 
93 John Gal, supra note 107 at 646. 
94  Rosen, Waitzberg & Israeli, supra note 17. 
95  Ibid. 
96  Our World in Data, “Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccinations”, (2021), online: 

<https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations?country=~ISR>. 
97 Ibid. 
98 Ibid. 



230 | COVID-19 Vaccinations and the Right to Health in Indonesia: Social Justice Analysis 

 

Initial targets for vaccine recipients are citizens aged 60 years and older, 
residents of nursing homes, health workers, and citizens with severe medical 
conditions—especially respiratory diseases.99 The main objective of this 
priority scheme is to reduce the death and severe illness associated with 
COVID-19, particularly for vulnerable groups. The other goal is that the 
vulnerable community has been vaccinated to open up economic activities 
without risking health risks to the community.100 In addition, vaccinating 
vulnerable groups and health workers will not burden the health system. 

This success can be achieved due to several factors ranging from the 
centralized government system, organizational system, technology, and 
logistics of the four large-scale and national Israeli Health Institutions to the 
simple, broad, and clear criteria in determining the priority of vaccine 
recipients.101 The first factor is that Israel is a centralized country. The 
regions in Israel do not have the authority to deal with public health. There 
is no need for excessive coordination to take policies related to public health 
despite providing assurance and clarity in implementing vaccination.102 The 
next factor concerns the implementation of COVID-19 vaccinations by the 
four Israeli Health Institutions. Vaccination in Israel is carried out in full by 
the government with the help of four Israeli Health Agencies103 that provide 
free national health insurance.104 All citizens have the right to get free 
national health insurance as the government’s obligations under National 
Health Insurance Act.105 This Act states that health insurance must be based 
on the principles of justice, equality, and mutual assistance. The four 

 
99 Ibid, at 9. 
100 Ibid. 
101 Ibid, at 3-4.  
102  Ibid, at 5. 
103  The four Israeli Health Institutions are Kupat Holim Clalit, Kupat Holim Maccabi, 

Kupat Holim Leumit, and Kupat Holim Meuhedet. Besides that, every Israeli citizen 
who registers with one of these Health Institutions must be registered. Ruth 
Waitzberg & Bruce Rosen, “International Health Care System Profiles: Israel," 
(2020), online: The Commonwealth Fund <https://www.commonwealthfund.org/ 
international-health-policy-center/countries/israel>. 

104 All residents of Israel have the freedom to choose between the four major Health 
institutions, but what is interesting is that the Health Institute itself is non-profit. 
Lihat: Bruce Rosen, Ruth Waitzberg, and Avi Israeli, supra note 17 at 6. 

105 Ibid. 



231 | LENTERA HUKUM 

 

institutions have been highly trained in administering vaccinations because 
they hold influenza vaccinations every year. Moreover, they also have medical 
records or patient data for epidemiological policymaking.106 

 

B. Norwegian Vaccination Policy 

Norway is another country that also applies a public vaccination system 
under the welfare state. The welfare state in Norway is universal,107 so that 
the vaccination is accomplished through the Norwegian Vaccination System. 
The central government has the primary role before it hands down to the 
local governments. The local governments carry out vaccinations to residents 
in their areas.108 In determining who should receive the vaccine, the 
Norwegian Health Institute determines that only vulnerable groups get 
priority vaccination first, including the elderly, vulnerable groups, and health 
workers.109 The vulnerable community is prioritized first due to limited 
vaccines.110 Also, this vaccination is entirely free.111 It is different from the 
scheme in Indonesia, where someone through a company can get the vaccine 
in advance by paying for the vaccine. In addition, Norwegian citizens also 
have the right to determine what vaccine they want. Insofar, under the public 
vaccination scheme, Norway has given its first dose of vaccine to 1,5 million 
citizens. Meanwhile, the residents who received the second dose were 600 
thousand citizens.112 Given that Norway's vaccination system prioritizes 

 
106  Bruce Rosen, Ruth Waitzberg, and Avi Israeli, supra note 17 at 6. 
107  Christiani, supra note 18. 
108  Norwegian Institute of Public Health, “Coronavirus vaccine - information for the 

public," (2020), online: <https://www.fhi.no/en/id/vaccines/coronavirus-
immunisation-programme/coronavirus-vaccine/>. 

109  The priority for vaccine recipients starts from citizens aged over 85 years, aged 75-84 
years, and aged 65-74 years. Some citizens have certain severe medical conditions such 
as diabetes, chronic lung disease, and down syndrome. Health workers are in the last 
rank, and vaccinations for the health workers are carried out in parallel with vulnerable 
groups. Norwegian Institute of Public Health, “Who will get the coronavirus 
vaccine?”, (2021), online: <https://www.fhi.no/en/id/vaccines/ coronavirus-
immunisation-programme/who-will-get-coronavirus-vaccine-first/>. 

110 Ibid. 
111 Ibid. 
112 Ibid. 



232 | COVID-19 Vaccinations and the Right to Health in Indonesia: Social Justice Analysis 

 

vulnerable groups, distributive justice becomes the main feature in 
supporting successful vaccination.  

 

C. Indian Vaccination Policy 

In comparison to Indonesia's policy on vaccination plans, India is one of the 
few countries that apply the division of COVID-19 private sectors. India's 
central government established the Indian national Covid-19 vaccination 
campaign. August 2020, under the chairmanship of VK Paul, member 
(health) of Niti Aayog, a task force called the National Expert Group on 
Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 was established to decide different 
aspects ranging from conceptualization to last-mile distribution.113 In 
January 2021, the Indian government began vaccinating healthcare and 
frontline workers.114 On March 1, 2021, vaccinations were extended to those 
above 60 years and those above 45 years with comorbidities, which then 
changes starting April 1, 2021.115 All above 45 years were eligible to be 
vaccinated. However, on May 1, 2021, the eligibility was lowered to aged 18, 
and that all citizens aged 18-44 in India have to register on the government's 
CoWin platform to get vaccinated.116 

The central government has the sole authority to purchase and administer 
vaccines before the new regulation's implementation in May 2021. The 
central government was paying INR 150 per dosage, exclusive of GST, for 
Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech vaccines.117 In government hospitals, the 
vaccines were free, while private hospitals charged INR 250 per dosage. The 
hospital kept INR 100 towards its costs of that fee, and the central 
government was given INR 150. However, after May 2021, private hospitals 
and other private entities can also purchase vaccines in the open market and 

 
113  Bloomberg, “The Who, What, When Of Vaccination In India: BQ Explains," (2021), 

online: <https://www.bloombergquint.com/coronavirus-outbreak/indias-covid-
vaccine-policy-all-you-need-to-know>. 

114  Cowin, “CoWin, online <https://www.cowin.gov.in>”, online: CoWin <https:// 
www.cowin.gov.in>. 

115  Ibid. 
116  Ibid. 
117  Bloomberg, supra note 113. 



233 | LENTERA HUKUM 

 

provide vaccinations. The new vaccine policy allows states and private 
entities also to procure and distribute vaccines. From them, Serum Institute 
and Bharat Biotech are charging a higher price.118 

India's Covid Vaccination Center (CVC) released the  Liberalized Pricing 
and Accelerated National COVID-19 Vaccination. The center said that 
every month 50 percent of the total Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL)-
cleared vaccine doses would be procured by the government of India, which 
will be made available to the states free of cost, as was being done earlier.119 
Out of the 50% non-government of India quota, half will go to the state 
governments and the other half to the private sector.120 As stated in the 
Health Ministry's affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, the reasoning is that 
25 percent of vaccination through the private sector will encourage improved 
access and minimize the operational burden on government vaccination 
facilities.121 

As a result, a veritable free market for vaccines has been developed and 
manufactured with public and private funding. At private hospitals, a single 
dose can now cost up to INR 1,500. Some opposition parties have said the 
federal government had abdicated its responsibility, opening up debilitating 
competition among states. States would spend twice as much for a dosage of 
Covishield—USD 4—as the federal government does, and four times as 
much for Covaxin—USD 8. This came after the two corporations made a 
philanthropic effort by lowering premiums for governments. States are now 
vying for limited supplies with private clinics and will push the prices on to 
their patients.122 Consequently, the number of vaccinated citizens compared 
to the number of citizens who should be vaccinated is wide in the margin. 
As of May 18, 2021, the number of India's citizens vaccinated according to 

 
118 Ibid. 
119 Rema Nagarajan & Shankar Raghuraman, “Covid-19: Very little of 25% vaccination 

quota for private hospitals flowing to rural India”, (2021), online: The Times of India 
<https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/very-little-of-25-vaccination-quota-for-
private-hospitals-flowing-to-rural-india/articleshow/82722965.cms>. 

120 Ibid. 
121 Ibid. 
122 Nikhil Inamdar & Aparna Alluri, “How India’s vaccine drive went horribly wrong," 

(2021), online: BBC News <https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-57007004>. 



234 | COVID-19 Vaccinations and the Right to Health in Indonesia: Social Justice Analysis 

 

Our World in Data is only 10,45 percent.123 Only about 145 million citizens 
have been vaccinated bound to receive the service.124 It proves how the 
market prices concerning the Indian policy open up to the private sectors for 
vaccine procurement. 

From this comparison, the public vaccination scheme is very much under the 
welfare state and distributive justice. It fulfills the right to public health by 
providing full and free vaccines to its citizens, and the country prioritizes 
vaccination for vulnerable citizens. This is different from the private scheme, 
which does not provide free vaccines and does not prioritize vaccinations for 
vulnerable citizens. 

 

VI. CONCLUSION 

The Gotong Royong vaccination scheme is incompatible with distributive 
justice and the welfare state. Gotong Royong vaccination results in injustice, 
discrimination, and economic inequality because it only provides certain 
privileged citizens access to vaccines. The government should provide 
vaccines free of charge to fulfill access and rights to public health, particularly 
for vulnerable groups. Meanwhile, Gotong Royong vaccination does not 
have priority, ignoring vulnerable groups from the virus. It contradicts the 
welfare state and distributive justice because the welfare state is measured 
from whether the state has fulfilled the rights to the health of citizens by 
providing vaccines in full and for free. Also, the indicator for the fulfillment 
of distributive justice is whether the state prioritizes vulnerable groups to get 
vaccines rather than giving vaccines to citizens who are not at significant risk. 
Compared to other countries such as Israel, Norway, and India, the public 
vaccination scheme in Indonesia remains under the welfare state and 
distributive justice. However, it is different from the private scheme, which 
does not provide free vaccines and does not prioritize vaccinations for 
vulnerable groups. Therefore, the Indonesian government should amend the 
vaccination policy to focus more on the public vaccination scheme. 

 
123 Our World in Data, “Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccinations”, (2021), online: 

<https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations?country=~IND>. 
124 Ibid. 



235 | LENTERA HUKUM 

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

None. 

 

COMPETING INTEREST 

The authors declared that they have no competing interests. 

 

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