Singapore will soon begin rolling out booster shots for Covid-19 vaccinations for elderly and immunocompromised persons.
This was revealed in the country’s Covid-19 Multi-Ministerial Task Force (MTF) on Sep 3.
In a release, Singapore’s Health Ministry said with the more transmissible Delta variant, it is not likely that countries can achieve herd immunity without a very high population vaccination rate of well over 90%.
Furthermore, there has also been emerging data on the waning of vaccine efficacy against infection with time. MOH said that although evidence globally and locally continues to show that vaccines are very effective in reducing severe illness and death, some countries have also decided to proceed with booster doses.
The booster programme will cover two subgroups: persons who are moderately to severely immunocompromised, as well as persons aged above 60 years and residents of aged care facilities.
For immunocompromised persons, MOH said they have a “blunted immune response” to vaccination, and are also at a higher risk of severe illness from Covid-19. These individuals are recommended to receive a third dose of the same mRNA vaccine two months after their second dose
For seniors, they should receive a booster dose of a mRNA vaccine under Singapore’s Pandemic Special Access Route (currently Pfizer or Moderna) six to nine months after having completed their primary course of vaccination.
This will ensure higher levels of protection from infection and continued high levels of protection against severe disease, and reduce the possibility of spikes in infections and more people falling severely ill.
The first batch of seniors aged above 60 years completed their second doses around March this year. Hence they will be eligible for the third dose within the month of September. More details on the implementation of the booster shot will be announced later.
These recommendations for immunocompromised individuals, seniors aged above 60 years and residents of aged care facilities are aligned to the vaccination measures adopted in other countries such as Israel and Germany.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also approved a third dose for immunocompromised individuals and is considering its recommendation for seniors.
Expanded testing in Singapore
Singapore will also move toward “making testing “a new normal”, said MTF co-chair Lawrence Wong.
Members of the public can now make an appointment for a self-paid test at 20 Quick Test Centres (QTCs) from Oct 1.
This can be to fulfil employment requirements, or for an unvaccinated person to attend a mass event.
MOH will also study the setting up of more testing sites across the island, so that it will be easier for people to get themselves tested regularly.
However, the ministry said individuals who test positive through these tests or their ART self-tests should visit a clinic offering PCR tests, or a government-funded PCR test.
In addition, MOH is of the view that employers can also play a part in making regular testing a new norm. The tripartite partners will discuss further guidelines to promote the more pervasive use of antigen rapid tests at workplaces, and as a key element of business continuity plans.
This will go beyond the Regular Rostered Testing (RRT) for higher risk settings and the Vaccinate or Regular Test (VoRT) regime announced earlier.
MOH said such regular testing will enable it to detect cases early, help to reduce workplace transmission and prevent large workplace clusters as more people return to on-site work.
