Updates to Pandemic Preparedness Plan for Large-scale Influenza Outbreaks

3 Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Health (a) whether he can elaborate on how our pandemic preparedness plan has been updated to include large-scale influenza outbreaks; (b) specifically, what measures are in place to handle a sudden spike in infections; and (c) how does the Ministry ensure sufficient healthcare capacity during such surges.

The Senior Minister of State for Health (Dr Janil Puthucheary) (for the Minister for Health): Mr Speaker, Sir, large-scale influenza outbreaks are not new and will hit us from time to time. The best way to protect ourselves is for the public, especially those who are medically vulnerable, to take preventive measures. These include having updated vaccinations, practising good personal hygiene and when unwell, wearing face masks, limiting social contacts and seeking medical attention promptly when needed.

If there is a spike in influenza infections, we may have to release our stockpile of antivirals to reduce the risk of infection and severe outcomes, or to secure more supply of new vaccines.

Our public hospitals treat high patient volumes on a daily basis. In surges, they have to tap on alternative care models such as Mobile Inpatient Care at Home for suitable patients and Transitional Care Facilities for medically stable patients.

Mr Speaker: Mr Yip.

Mr Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Senior Minister of State for his reply. In light of recent influenza outbreaks in regional countries, such as Thailand, what steps is the Ministry taking to enhance influenza vaccination coverage amongst the high-risk populations in Singapore? For instance, in Yio Chu Kang, we work with donors and clinics to provide free flu vaccinations for seniors. And how are these strategies informed by lessons learnt from COVID-19 vaccination roll-outs?

Dr Janil Puthucheary: Sir, I thank Mr Yip for his question and for the work that he is doing in his constituency to enhance vaccine coverage. Indeed, we have to increase the awareness of the importance of vaccine coverage for high-risk populations. And high-risk populations for influenza are particularly the seniors that he mentioned, anyone over the age of 65, anyone with chronic medical conditions and people who are vulnerable either because of a condition that causes low immunity or increased risk of acquiring an illness such as influenza.

This is something that we have to think about on an ongoing basis. It is not a illness where it comes once and then it is gone. This is illness that is endemic and it is seasonal – the virus changes, every season. And it is also not an illness where you can be vaccinated once and then are protected for life. You have to update your vaccinations on a regular basis. And so, issues to do with awareness and education, we need to continue on an ongoing basis. And we do so at the medical facilities, or if general practitioners, family physicians are seeing someone over the age of 65 for other routine care, they often do and should ask about when the last influenza vaccination was and offer it, if appropriate.

Similarly, this is something that anyone who is in regular contact with seniors as a result of the service that they are offering, such as the examples that Mr Yip provided in his constituency, can and should ask seniors. Even on a personal level for family members, children can very often play an important role in reminding their parents. So, for me, for example, for many years, I have had the habit of using my parents' wedding anniversary as a marker in my calendar to nag them, gently nudge them. And then, as they have now become a little bit older, I take on the responsibility of making the appointment for them to then go and receive their influenza vaccinations.

So, from an organisational, a social and a personal level, we can often find ways to constantly remind the seniors amongst us above the age of 65 that a regular influenza vaccination would be a very important part of protecting themselves. In parallel, the good social habits, the personal hygiene that I mentioned in my original Parliamentary Question answer also need to continue to be reinforced.