Politicians do not want to be accused of “jumping the queue”, they want to prioritize health workers: Health Minister Gan Kim Yong explains why Singapore’s leaders have not yet been vaccinated.

Ministers, senior officials and politicians do not want to be accused of jumping the gun or jumping the tail earlier than others in Singapore, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said in Parliament on Monday (January 4) on why, according to they have reportedly not yet taken the available COVID-19 vaccine.

Health workers, in particular, are exposed to possible infections when caring for their patients, and that is why they are prioritized in the vaccination exercise, he said.

Professor Leo Yee Sin, executive director of the National Center for Infectious Diseases, was one of the first in the country to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to assure the public that the vaccination process is safe, Gan noted.

“When our time comes, I’m sure all my colleagues will be very happy to step up to get vaccinated,” he said. he said.

Reiterating that while the Government encourages the people of Singapore to get vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, Mr. Gan also said today that vaccines should be voluntary.

Groups most at risk of contracting the virus will be prioritized for vaccination, starting with healthcare workers, swabs, quarantine center officials and other front-line workers. This will be followed next month by seniors age 70 and over.

Workers in industries at high risk of COVID-19 “over-spread”, such as the construction and marine industries, will also be among those prioritized for vaccination.

Gan said those who have been vaccinated will receive a physical card to remind them of their next appointment for the second dose of vaccine, as well as to know which vaccine they were given and to seek post-vaccination advice.

They will also have their records updated in the National Immunization Registry. They will also be able to check their status online, Gan said.

In response to a question from Sembawang GRC MP Lim Wee Kiak about the number of COVID-19 vaccines that have been secured for Singapore, Gan said that while the government cannot specify it due to confidentiality clauses in the advance purchase with the vaccine. manufacturers, Singapore could have enough vaccines for the population by the third quarter of this year if all goes according to plan.

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