Strategies to Encourage Singaporeans to Update COVID-19 Vaccinations amid Dominance of XFG Variant

24 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health in view of the COVID-19 XFG variant being the predominant strain of COVID-19 infections in Singapore with high transmissibility and increased ability to evade immunity, whether more needs to be done to encourage Singaporeans to ensure that their COVID-19 vaccinations are up to date.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: The XFG variant is a descendant of the Omicron variant. There is no evidence to suggest that XFG causes more severe illness or deaths compared to previous variants.

Given that COVID-19 is now an endemic disease, the Ministry of Health (MOH) had adjusted our vaccination recommendations over time. Vaccination is recommended for individuals (a) aged 60 years and above; (b) medically vulnerable individuals aged six months and above; and (c) residents of aged care facilities. Other individuals aged six months and above can also receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

To make vaccination convenient, it is offered at more than 600 general practitioner clinics and 10 polyclinics across the island. It continues to be free under the COVID-19 National Vaccination Programme. To enhance convenience for seniors, mobile vaccination teams continue to be deployed to selected heartland locations and care facilities. MOH will also send SMS invitations to eligible seniors.