Option to Receive Early COVID-19 Vaccination for Singaporeans who are Required to Travel for Work and Studies
Ministry of HealthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Miss Rachel Ong’s inquiry on whether Singaporeans required to travel for work or studies can opt for early COVID-19 vaccination. Minister Gan Kim Yong explained that limited global supplies and manufacturing disruptions necessitate prioritizing healthcare workers, frontline personnel, seniors, and essential services personnel. The Ministry aims to vaccinate all Singaporeans and long-term residents by the third quarter of 2021 but cannot currently provide vaccines for travel purposes. Current policy involves broadening the vaccination exercise progressively as supplies arrive to ensure those in frontline and essential roles are protected. Minister Gan Kim Yong stated that the government will consider allowing individuals to receive early vaccination once there is greater certainty in the vaccine supply.
Transcript
14 Miss Rachel Ong asked the Minister for Health whether the Ministry will allow Singaporeans who are required to travel for work and studies to opt in to receive early COVID-19 vaccination.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: There is at present a limited supply of COVID-19 vaccine globally. Supplies for Singapore will arrive in batches over several months as manufacturers increase the production of vaccines. In addition, there may be unforeseen disruptions to the vaccine delivery schedule. There were delays to shipments of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines due to Pfizer's manufacturing plant upgrading. We will continue to monitor our supplies closely to ensure that we will have enough vaccines for all Singaporeans and long-term residents in Singapore by the third quarter of 2021.
There is a need to prioritise the allocation of the vaccines. We have prioritised healthcare workers, COVID-19 frontline personnel, seniors, and other essential services personnel. We will progressively broaden our vaccination exercise to include other Singaporeans and long-term residents who are medically eligible.
We understand the anxiety of some Singaporeans wish to travel overseas for personal reasons and are anxious to get vaccinated early. At this point when vaccine supplies are limited, we need to prioritise our healthcare and frontline workers, and seniors for vaccination. We are therefore unable to provide vaccines at this time to these Singaporeans and seek their understanding. When there is greater certainty in our vaccine supply, we will consider allowing individuals to receive early vaccination. We will announce further details when available.