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SINGAPORE – Approximately 30,000 migrant workers in 30 dormitories are scheduled to take their first hits from Covid-19 in the coming weeks as this vaccination exercise moves into its second phase.
Deputy Manpower Minister Tan See Leng said on Friday (March 26) that the first phase has been completed, as approximately 97 percent of the roughly 9,000 eligible workers have received their first doses.
Launched two weeks ago, it targeted 10,000 residents in five of the largest worker dormitories built specifically here. The blows were administered on the spot in dormitory medical centers, and residents will receive their second injections next month.
Dr. Tan spoke on the sidelines of a visit to a Migrant Workers Incorporation Center (MWOC) in Punggol. This is one of four such centers that have been established as part of a one-year pilot plan to integrate stay-at-home notification requirements for newly arrived workers with testing, enhanced medical examinations, and an installation program. three-day residential.
Another MWOC will also be established soon in Choa Chu Kang, and the five centers will be able to house up to 7,000 workers.
Dr. Tan said the response to the first round of vaccinations was “phenomenal.”
“The next step is to open up to other large bedrooms as well … and then gradually we will introduce the rest as well,” he added.
The Straits Times understands that this next round of vaccinations for dorm residents will take place at the vaccination center in Terminal 4 of Changi Airport.
When asked if Singapore would recognize vaccines taken by migrant workers recently arrived in their home countries, Dr Tan said it is still early days and it will also depend on the type of vaccine.
“The expert committee of the Ministry of Health is evaluating some of these vaccines. I think that once the results are published, we will be in a much better position to communicate this to everyone.”
Dr. Tan also said that further relaxation of restrictions for dorm residents will be announced later as more are vaccinated.
“We are planning to increase the number of visits to recreation centers. We are also planning to open up slowly so that they also go to the community,” he said.
“This will be a graded and calibrated process.”
This as long as there is no spike in Covid-19 cases here, Dr. Tan warned.
“For the last few days, the cases in our local community have been zero so keep your fingers crossed. Let’s keep it that way, then there will be light at the end of the tunnel.
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