Update on COVID-19 Vaccination Programme for Foreign Workers
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the progress of the COVID-19 vaccination programme for migrant workers and the impact of vaccination on testing and quarantine requirements. Miss Cheng Li Hui asked for updates on construction worker vaccinations and whether vaccination reduces swab test frequencies or Stay-Home Notice durations. Minister for Manpower Mrs Josephine Teo stated that 42,000 workers were fully vaccinated by late April and that vaccinated workers' testing cycles have been extended from 14 to 28 days. She explained that Stay-Home Notice requirements for new arrivals currently remain the same for vaccinated and unvaccinated persons while the government monitors transmission risks. Minister for Manpower Mrs Josephine Teo concluded that vaccinations will continue progressively based on supply and that protocols remain subject to ongoing review.
Transcript
101 Miss Cheng Li Hui asked the Minister for Manpower (a) whether she can provide an update on the COVID-19 vaccination programme for foreign workers in Singapore and in the construction industry; and (b) whether workers in the construction industry are still required to undergo fortnightly swab tests after full vaccination is achieved; and (c) whether work permit applicants who are fully vaccinated in their home country have reduced days of Stay-Home Notice upon arrival into Singapore.
Mrs Josephine Teo: We have started the COVID-19 vaccination programme for workers staying in large dormitories who are more susceptible to the risk of infection and thus prioritised for vaccination. This included migrant workers from the Construction sector.
By end April, 42,000 migrant workers had been fully vaccinated of which about 70% were from the construction sector. Depending on availability of vaccine supply, MOM and MOH will continue to progressively vaccinate migrant workers in the coming months.
Vaccinated migrant workers will have better protection against becoming seriously ill, but the risk of infection is not zero. In addition, the risk of onward transmission by vaccinated persons is being studied. At present, migrant workers who have received the full course of two doses of the COVID-19 vaccines will be tested every 28 days instead of the current 14-day testing cycle. This frequency will be subject to monitoring and review.
For newly arrived migrant workers, the requirements for Stay-Home Notice who are vaccinated in their home countries remain the same as unvaccinated persons for now. The Government is monitoring the vaccine situation, including studies on reduction of transmission risk due to vaccination, and will review these requirements as more information become available.