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SINGAPORE: Singapore is discussing mutual recognition of COVID-19 vaccine certificates with other countries, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Wednesday (February 24), calling it a necessary step to resume global travel.
In a video recording posted on Facebook, Lee also said that there must be global cooperation so that all countries have access to the vaccine.
“The world must be united in our response to COVID-19,” said the Prime Minister.
“Vaccines allow us a way out of the crisis, they are now a reality. Even if each of us prepares to secure our own supplies, we must cooperate internationally so that all countries, including developing countries, have access to vaccines for its people, “he added. added.
“We are also discussing mutual recognition of vaccine certification with interested countries.”
In a parliamentary response written on Wednesday, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said his ministry is engaging its international counterparts and monitoring global progress in the development and recognition of vaccination certificates.
READ: COVID-19 vaccination for people aged 70 and over starts in Singapore
He was responding to Member of Parliament (MP) Lim Wee Kiak (PAP-Sembawang), who asked whether vaccination data will be shared with the World Health Organization and other countries, and how Singapore will determine that vaccination records provided by the visitors are authentic. .
Dr. Lim also asked if people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 receive certificates and if the record will be available in the National Immunization Registry.
All people who have received a COVID-19 vaccine in Singapore will receive a vaccination card that includes information such as their personal details, the brand of the vaccine and the dates of the vaccines.
All local COVID-19 vaccination records are stored digitally in the National Immunization Registry. People can also view their vaccination records on the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) HealthHub app, accessible through SingPass, Gan said.
“This can be extended to other relevant government applications where appropriate,” he said.
“The adoption of digital vaccination certificates locally and globally will enhance our ability to ensure that certificates presented by visitors are authentic,” Gan said.
READ: COVID-19 vaccination error: those involved in the process should not walk away before completing the immediate task, says the Ministry of Health
He said his ministry and the Government Technology Agency (GovTech) have established a system to issue digital COVID-19 test certificates for travelers and visitors. This system will be extended to digital vaccination certificates.
“In this way, vaccination information can be safely shared with the relevant international authorities,” he said.
Singapore began its COVID-19 vaccination exercise on December 30, and health workers from the National Center for Infectious Diseases were the first to receive the vaccines. Since then, the country has rolled out vaccines for more groups of people, including the elderly and essential workers like those in the aviation sector.
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