The Ministry of Public Health (MH) will recommend that people aged 80 and over, residents of care for the elderly and those who are considered "medically susceptible to severe COVID-19" receive a second booster dose.
"This includes all people with chronic diseases of the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver and other organ systems," the Ministry of Health said on Thursday (March 24).
This is in line with the recommendations of the COVID-19 Vaccination Expert Committee (EC19V) in view of evolving international data on the reduction of vaccine protection against major diseases over time, the MoH said.
"This will help ensure that these risk groups remain more protected as we continue our day-to-day operations," the MOH said, announcing the release of restrictions in many respects, including size. -on the group and the need for veils.
At a press conference of the COVID-19 multi-ministerial working group, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said that a second revaccination would have to be given five months after the first revaccination. "This is because a rapid weakening of protection against infection and, to a lesser extent, serious illness has been observed in these groups of individuals," he said.
He said that even if these groups did not make another stab, they would remain in their fully internal state.
"They are strongly advised to take a second booster dose to protect themselves. Further details on how at-risk groups will receive a second booster dose will be announced later," the MoH said.
There is currently no recommendation for healthy people in younger age groups to receive an extra dose, said Kenneth Mak, director of medical services at the press conference. He said people in this group have a better immune response to vaccinations and a lower risk of developing a serious illness.
"Our local data show that their protection against severe infection is maintained after the third dose of mRNA vaccination and the rate of reduction in the number of vaccines over time is not as great as in the elderly population," he said.
This is confirmed by international data, which do not yet have clear evidence for the benefit of the fourth dose for these groups compared to older age groups, he said.
+ CENTER FACTINATION STOP OPERATION
Providing up-to-date information on the progress of Singapore's vaccination program, the MOH said that as of March 22, more than 92 percent of the population had completed the basic vaccination series and 71 percent had received booster doses.
More than 76 percent of the eligible population between the ages of five and 11 drank at least their first dose, including about 85 percent of our college students, in addition to MOH. This means that the number of doses given has continued to fall in recent weeks, in addition to MOH.
As a result, the Ministry of Health will gradually reduce the number of vaccination centers from the end of April and free up these spaces for other uses, the Ministry of Health said.
The Marine Parade Community Club (CC) will cease operations on April 20, 2022, while Woodlands CC and No Soon East CC will have their last day of operation on May 31, 2022, the MOH said.
Marine Parade CC will deliver the last dose of 1 on April 9 and will continue to deliver dose 2 and booster doses until April 30.
Woodlands CC and No Soon East CC will host the latest Dose 1 on May 2 and May 10, respectively. Both community clubs will go through dose 2 and booster doses until 31 May.
Of the 13 childhood vaccination centers, 12 will remain in operation until the end of April. From May to July, the Ministry of Health plans to reduce the number of these centers from 12 to two, the Ministry of Health said.
The Ministry of Health will continue to represent selected public health clinics and clinics to provide childhood vaccine doses to children who have not yet received primary vaccination. More details will be announced later, the Ministry of Health said.