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SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Health (MOH) on Thursday (Nov 12) provided further details on the expert committee that will evaluate the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, as well as provide advice on Singapore’s vaccine strategy.
The committee’s appointment, made up of experts in infectious diseases, immunology, and other relevant fields, took effect on October 5.
The members have been meeting regularly since they first met on October 13 to “discuss the profiles of various candidate vaccines, as well as the conditions for their deployment in the context of Singapore,” the ministry said.
The committee was first announced to the public by Health Minister Gan Kim Yong at a press conference on Tuesday.
READ: Committee of Experts to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines; Authorities Expand Vaccine Portfolio: Gan Kim Yong
“The expert committee will draw on scientific and clinical expertise to evaluate vaccine candidates and recommend suitable vaccines for use against COVID-19 in Singapore when they become available,” the ministry said Thursday.
It will also “consider the most up-to-date information and assessment of COVID-19 vaccines, including closely monitoring the global vaccine development landscape and the stance of authoritative agencies such as the World Health Organization.”
Chaired by Associate Professor Benjamin Ong, who is senior adviser to the Director of Medical Services at the Ministry of Health, the committee will evaluate vaccines, make recommendations on the administration of vaccines to specific segments of the population, and provide advice on the overall strategy of vaccination for Singapore.
Ensuring the safety and efficacy of vaccines will be a “top priority” as more candidates become available for clinical use, said Professor Ong, who is also senior vice president for health education and resources at the National University of Singapore (NUS ). .
“There are many factors to consider, as not all vaccines would be adequate, safe and effective for all segments of our population,” he added.
“The expert committee will need to closely study the clinical and safety data as they become available, taking into account our local context, so that we can evaluate and recommend an appropriate and holistic vaccination strategy that can be implemented for the population of Singapore. . “
The members of the committee are:
MADE STEPS TO ENSURE ACCESS
The Health Ministry also said Singapore has been actively monitoring progress in the development of a COVID-19 vaccine around the world and has taken steps to “ensure access to a portfolio of vaccines for our population amid strong demand. expected worldwide “.
“We are a strong supporter and active participant in leading the work of the global facility for global access to the COVID-19 vaccine (COVAX),” he said.
“In addition to our efforts through the COVAX facility, we have further expanded and diversified our COVID-19 vaccine portfolio with several pharmaceutical companies that currently have vaccine candidates in development, in order to improve our chances of obtaining a suitable vaccine for Singapore. . “
Among the candidates is a potential vaccine developed by the US pharmaceutical company Pfizer, which is reportedly more than 90 percent effective.
Other vaccines are being developed around the world, including in China and Russia.
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