Update on COVID-19 Vaccination Rates for Students Aged 12 to18
Ministry of EducationSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns student COVID-19 vaccination rates and measures to minimize academic disruptions, as raised by Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong. Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing reported that by end-July, over 90% of eligible students received their first dose and over 70% were fully vaccinated. Priority was given to graduating cohorts starting in June to ensure flexibility before national examinations, with their full vaccination rates expected to reach 80% by end-July. Policy measures include granting time off for appointments and side effects, plus assistance for missed lessons to reduce the impact on students' school schedules. Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing also noted that ample capacity at community vaccination centers allows students to easily reschedule appointments to avoid school hours.
Transcript
15 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Education (a) to date, what are the COVID-19 vaccination rates for students aged 12 to 18; and (b) whether students will be given priority timings on vaccinations to ensure minimal disruptions to their school schedules.
Mr Chan Chun Sing: Based on actual vaccination rates to date and appointment bookings, by end-July, over 90% of eligible students aged between 12 to 18 in MOE schools and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) would have received at least their first vaccination dose. Over 70% of these students would have received both doses. This figure is expected to reach 80% by early-August and about 90% by early-September.
To take full advantage of the June holidays, students were prioritised and invited to sign up for their vaccination from 1 June 2021. Students sitting for the GCE "N", "O" and "A" Level examinations or equivalent qualifications in the second- half of 2021 were the first to receive their invitations to be vaccinated. This gave graduating students greater flexibility to schedule their vaccination appointments in view of their upcoming national examinations. By end-July, over 80% of the graduating GCE "N", "O" and "A" Level cohorts would have received both doses.
Students in schools and IHLs whose vaccination appointments are during school hours, as well as those feeling unwell from the side effects of the vaccine, are given time off and assistance to minimise the impact of missed lessons. In addition, there is currently ample capacity in our community Vaccination Centres to allow for students to readily change their appointments to minimise disruptions to their school schedules.