Singapore may start administering additional doses of the Covid-19 vaccine starting next year. The booster shots would be given for better immunity, above the first two jabs.
In an Instagram Live session on 8 July, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung shared that the booster shots might begin around Chinese New Year in 2022.
Plans For Booster Shots Against Covid-19 To Possibly Start Next Year
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While responding to questions about living with Covid-19, Mr Ong told members of the public that those who are fully vaccinated will most likely need booster shots for better immunity after Covid vaccination. According to Lianhe Zaobao‘s report (on his Instagram broadcast), the authorities are already looking into this consideration.
Mr Ong says if booster shots are needed, Singaporeans will be able to get them around Chinese New Year, which is on February 1, 2022. This will be about a year after the national vaccination drive was first launched in Singapore.
Recommendations will be made for regular booster shots once more data on the long-term effectiveness of the vaccines are available, added Singapore Medical Association president Tan Yia Swam, according to reports by The Straits Times.
Better Immunity After Covid Vaccine: Why A Booster Shot Might Be Needed
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As per ST, the co-chairs of the Task Force including Mr Ong, Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong noted that Singapore may have to sustain a multi-year vaccination programme. They added that booster shots may eventually be needed to sustain a high level of protection against the virus.
Mr Ong also said that since the vaccines are effective for one to two years, booster shots may be needed. They could help better fight against new variants of the virus that could possibly emerge in the future.
The co-chair of the Covid-19 multi-ministry task force added that the current vaccine supplies are enough to vaccinate the population. Although, if booster shots do end up being needed, the country may need to order more vaccines.
Mixing Vaccines May Also Be A Feasible
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Aside from providing booster shots for additional immunity, Mr Ong shared that mixing vaccines is believed to be feasible. Authorities in Singapore and abroad are looking into the effectiveness of this process.
Experts say mixing vaccines should work well to prevent Covid-19 infections. Although, the actual efficacy rate of protection is yet unknown, because using vaccines this way since each one could trigger immune responses differently.
Singapore’s director of medical services Kenneth Mak also recently said those who have already taken the Sinovac or other types of vaccines can still receive the mRNA vaccine, if they wish. Although, he notes that there isn’t much data to confirm the effectiveness of using two different vaccines.
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