A woman walks across a bridge as the Marina Bay Sands hotel and resort is seen in the background, in Singapore, on August 16, 2021.
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SINGAPORE – Singapore introduces booster vaccines for people aged 60 and over, residents in nursing homes and those with suppressed immune systems.
In a statement Friday, the health ministry said seniors will be eligible for a third dose six to nine months after their second dose, while those moderately to severely immunocompromised are advised to receive two boosters. months after its second dose.
These groups were selected because they have an increased risk of serious illness as a result of Covid-19 uptake and may have a weaker immune response from the first two doses of the vaccine.
Elderly people will be invited to sign up for their third dose via text message, while health care providers will offer booster shots to those who are immunocompromised. The reinforcement program is expected to begin this month.
Countries like Israel and the United States have already begun administering third doses of the vaccine.
Singapore has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world, with 81% of its population receiving two doses of vaccine. More than 84 percent of the population has received their first dose, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said during a press conference on Friday.
Covid-19 cases have been on the rise in the city-state, however, with clusters sprang up around public bus interchanges, dormitories for migrant workers and a shopping mall since restrictions were eased in August.
Increased testing
Local authorities are also looking to increase Covid testing, including automatic testing.
“We strongly encourage everyone, including fully vaccinated people, to get tested regularly with rapid antigen test kits (ART) as a matter of social responsibility, especially if you participate in higher risk activities or attend large events. scale “. they said in the press release.
Employers can also introduce periodic Covid tests to avoid workplace clusters.
As of Thursday, 67,991 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Singapore since the start of the pandemic and 55 people have died from the disease and its complications.