[ad_1]
SINGAPORE – The first Covid-19 vaccines have arrived in Singapore with more expected in the coming months.
On Monday (January 4), Health Minister Gan Kim Yong gave Parliament an update on the nation’s vaccination strategy, saying it was a “key enabler” in allowing the country to return to normalcy.
These are the highlights of your ministerial statement.
1. The first shipments of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine arrived in Singapore in December. When will the next shipment of vaccines arrive?
Gan said Singapore expects more deliveries of Covid-19 vaccines in the coming months, including from American biotech firm Moderna and Chinese Sinovac.
If all goes according to schedule, Gan said Singapore will have enough vaccines for everyone by the third quarter of this year.
2. Who has been vaccinated so far and when will it be my turn?
The Republic’s Covid-19 vaccination campaign has started with healthcare workers and personnel working in the healthcare sector, as they work in direct patient care or in support roles, Gan said.
Other frontline Covid-19 workers and essential staff, such as Spanish-speakers hired by the Health Promotion Board, and staff working in government quarantine facilities, community care facilities, and facilities dedicated to Notices at home will also be at the front of the line.
For example, 40 staff members from the National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID) were the first to receive doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on December 30, including Professor Leo Yee Sin, the center’s executive director. The rest of the NCID staff will be progressively vaccinated, and the rest of the administration and staff of the National Healthcare Group starting this month.
Others at higher risk of severe illness from coronavirus infection will be vaccinated starting in February.
This will start with people age 70 and over, and those who are in jobs or working in settings where the risk of a super spread event is high. This includes those in the construction, marine and process sectors and migrant workers.
Thereafter, Mr. Gan said Singapore will progressively expand vaccines to include other Singaporeans and long-term residents who are medically eligible.
The minister also said that as the use of more vaccines is approved, Singapore will adjust its vaccination schedule, based on the vaccine supply and the epidemiology of the disease at that time.
3. Can I receive the Covid-19 vaccine without an appointment?
No. Advance reservations will be required given cold chain requirements at vaccination sites and multi-dose vials of vaccines. It will also ensure operational efficiency and minimize individual wait times, Gan said. More information on how to make the reservation will be provided later.
4. Who is eligible to receive free Covid-19 vaccines in Singapore?
Singaporeans, permanent residents, and long-term residents can receive free Covid-19 vaccinations.
They include those here on a job or S pass, as well as holders of work permits, foreign domestic workers and dependent passes, long-term visit passes, and holders of student passes.
5. Can I choose which Covid-19 vaccine to take?
No. Also, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) to date has only approved one vaccine by Pfizer-BioNTech.
Those who choose to receive the vaccine will receive a physical vaccination card and will be able to view their vaccination records online.
6. Will the Covid-19 vaccine work against the new strain of coronavirus?
There is currently no evidence that existing Covid-19 vaccines are less effective against the new, more transmissible strain of the coronavirus, Gan said.
He noted that vaccine manufacturers Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have publicly stated that their vaccines are likely to protect against the new strain, and are conducting studies to formally confirm this.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) will evaluate the data as it emerges and will review Singapore’s vaccine strategy and border measures accordingly, Gan said.
7. What help will I get if I develop serious side effects after getting vaccinated?
As with all established drugs and vaccines, there is a small risk of very rare but serious adverse events that can occur after vaccination, including allergic reactions.
Those who receive the Covid-19 vaccine should be observed on site for 30 minutes after receiving the injection so that any serious allergic reaction, such as anaphylaxis, can be detected and treated immediately, Mr. Gan said.
A new program will also be introduced to support those experiencing serious side effects related to the Covid-19 vaccines administered here.
Gan said the Health Ministry program will give peace of mind to those who receive the vaccines, although few are expected to need it. More details about the vaccine injury financial assistance program will be announced later, he said.
[ad_2]
