Vaccine Hesitancy among Work Pass Holders
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the management of vaccine hesitancy among work pass holders and whether vaccination is mandatory for those currently residing in Singapore. Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song inquired about entry requirements, medical exemptions, and vaccination mandates for existing workers. Minister for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng stated that from 1 November 2021, work pass holders must be fully vaccinated to enter, though the medically ineligible may appeal with a doctor’s memo. He highlighted that 96% of work pass holders are already vaccinated and, from 1 January 2022, workplace access will be restricted to fully vaccinated or recently recovered employees. The Ministry aims to sustain high workforce vaccination rates by monitoring these trends and implementing appropriate measures.
Transcript
58 Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Manpower (a) how does the Ministry plan to manage vaccine hesitancy among work pass holders from 1 November 2021 when they will all be required to be fully vaccinated prior to arrival in Singapore; (b) whether exceptions will be granted to those with contraindications to COVID-19 vaccines; and (c) whether the Ministry will require all work pass holders who are already in Singapore to get vaccinated.
Dr Tan See Leng: From 1 November 2021, MOM will only allow work pass holders who are fully vaccinated to enter Singapore. This is important to support Singapore’s reopening in a safe and calibrated manner. Those who are medically ineligible for vaccination may appeal for exemption from the vaccination requirement, supported by a doctor’s memo, before applying for entry approval. Upon arrival in Singapore, they will have to get a medical exemption from a Singapore medical practitioner or complete the full vaccination regimen if they are eligible for any COVID-19 vaccine under the National Vaccination Programme.
To date, 96% of MOM work pass holders are fully vaccinated. With effect from 1 January 2022, only fully vaccinated employees or employees who have recovered from COVID-19 within 270 days can return to the workplace. We expect more workers, both local and foreign, who have yet to be vaccinated, to be fully vaccinated in the coming months. We will continue to monitor the vaccination rate of the local and foreign workforce, and take appropriate measures to ensure and sustain one of the highest workforce vaccination rates in the world.