FREE VACCINATIONS
COVID-19 vaccinations and oral antivirals will remain fully subsidised for clinically eligible patients. This will apply in outpatient, including primary care, ambulatory settings of public hospitals and nursing homes, until further notice.
COVID-19 jabs under the National Vaccination Programme will continue to be offered free to all Singaporeans, permanent residents, long-term pass-holders and certain short-term pass-holders.
“This is because these are important preventive steps and treatments to avoid severe disease and hospitalisations, and will remain an important part of living with COVID-19,” said MOH.
Mr Ong noted that MOH is exploring making all nationally recommended vaccines free under the Healthier SG initiative. While the COVID-19 jab is currently not a nationally recommended vaccine, if it does become one, it could become permanently free under Healthier SG, he said.
Patients with a higher risk of severe COVID-19, such as the immunocompromised and individuals with some comorbidities, may also be referred by their doctors for free telemedicine support.
The ministry reiterated that vaccination remained “our first line of defence” against the disease, and that Singapore’s high vaccination rates had enabled Singapore to arrive at the COVID-19 endemic norm today.
Out of the population eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, 83 per cent have received minimum protection, while 48 per cent have an up-to-date vaccination, according to MOH data as of Feb 7.
Individuals are considered up to date with their vaccination if they have at least the minimum protection and their last vaccine dose was received within the past year.
UPDATED VACCINATION GUIDELINES
With the transition to this new endemic normal, the Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination has also updated the vaccination guidelines.
Everyone aged five years and above should achieve at least minimum protection – that is, three doses of mRNA or Novavax vaccine, or four doses of Sinovac vaccine.
As for booster doses, those at higher risk of severe disease from COVID-19 – people aged 60 years and above, medically vulnerable people, and residents of aged care facilities – are recommended to take the jab around one year after the last booster dose. They are urged to receive their booster dose this year when they become eligible for it.
People aged 12 to 59 years who are healthy have a lower risk of severe disease, and a booster will be offered around one year after their last booster dose to enhance protection.
Children aged five to 11 are neither recommended nor eligible for additional doses beyond minimum protection.
Children aged six months to four years continue to be recommended to complete two doses of Moderna/SpikeVax or three doses of Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty. They are not recommended nor eligible for additional doses at this time.
All individuals eligible for COVID-19 vaccination may book an appointment at the Joint Testing and Vaccination Centres, participating Public Health Preparedness Clinics, polyclinics and Vaccination Centres.
MOH will continue to deploy mobile vaccination teams to heartland locations. From Feb 15 to Apr 2, these teams will be deployed to multiple heartland locations for three days each.
The COVID-19 vaccination requirements for new permanent residents, long-term pass and work pass applications, as well as the renewal of selected work permit holders and S Pass holders in the construction, marine shipyard and process sectors or residing in dormitories, will remain in place to maintain the high level of vaccination coverage nationally, MOH added.
From Apr 1, those who recently recovered from COVID-19 will no longer be given temporary exemption from COVID-19 vaccination requirements.