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SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong received his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on Friday (January 8), becoming the first Singaporean cabinet member to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Mr. Lee took the hit along with the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) staff at the official launch of vaccines for healthcare workers.
Public health institutions, including hospitals and polyclinics, will begin vaccinating their staff on Friday. SGH estimated that around 90 of its employees will be vaccinated on the first day.
The official launch comes after a small-scale test at the National Center for Infectious Diseases, where 40 employees received their blows on December 30.
READ: NCID nurse becomes first person in Singapore to receive COVID-19 vaccine
Speaking to SGH reporters, Lee said he was happy to see the start of vaccines for frontline and healthcare workers.
“I took the opportunity to have my own jab this morning and I’m done. We waited 30 minutes, nothing happened,” he said.
“I have my card and the appointment to return in three weeks. It is painless, effective and important.”
Lee shows journalists the appointment card for his second shot for the COVID-19 vaccine after receiving his first dose on January 8, 2021 (Photo: Ministry of Communications and Information).
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Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said earlier that plans were being prepared for the cabinet to be vaccinated in batches.
The Health Ministry’s director of medical services, Kenneth Mak, who is part of the multi-ministry task force on COVID-19, also received his first dose of the vaccine on Friday.
Director of Medical Services Kenneth Mak receives his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on January 8, 2021 (Photo: Ministry of Communications and Information)
“My cabinet colleagues and I, including the older ones, will get vaccinated early. This is to show them, especially older people like me, that we believe vaccines are safe, ”Lee said in a televised national address last month.
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The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was approved by Singapore late last year with the first shipment arriving on December 21. The vaccine requires two doses taken 21 days apart, and it will take up to 14 more days after the second dose to achieve maximum protection against the virus.
Vaccinations for seniors and those at increased risk for severe COVID-19 will begin in February, starting with those ages 70 and older. Vaccinations will be free to all Singaporeans and long-term residents of Singapore.
After being hit on Friday, Lee urged Singaporeans to get vaccinated when they can. He said there are “a lot of vaccines coming in” as Singapore ordered the vaccines early.
“It will make us safer and it will make you and your loved ones more secure. So take it when you can,” he said.
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