Influenza Vaccination Rate for Children under 16 and Proposal for Free Flu Vaccines for Them

53 Mr Chong Kee Hiong asked the Minister for Health (a) what is the influenza vaccination rate for children under the age of 16; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider providing free flu vaccines to all Singaporean children.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: The Ministry of Health, in consultation with the Expert Committee on Immunisation, makes recommendations on vaccinations which the population should receive. Influenza vaccination is recommended specifically for children six months to below five years of age at high-risk for influenza complications, and older children with chronic medical conditions, such as asthma and heart disease. Since 2014, MediSave can be used to pay for influenza vaccination among these groups to encourage take-up.

Although more children are receiving influenza vaccination, more can be done to improve the take-up. Based on voluntary notification to the National Immunisation Registry, about 14,000 children below five years of age received influenza vaccination in 2019, while the number was around 4,600 in 2014. My Ministry is looking into how to strengthen awareness on the need for influenza vaccination in the recommended groups, and to facilitate access to vaccination.