Singapore has announced an expansion of its COVID-19 vaccination recommendations, urging individuals aged six months and above to receive an additional vaccine dose in 2023 or 2024. Previously, the recommendation was limited to people aged 60 and above, residents of aged care facilities, and those medically vulnerable, who were advised to get a one-year booster dose.
The Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination (EC19V) now encourages everyone aged six months and older to consider an additional dose, with a waiting period of at least five months after their last shot. This expanded recommendation particularly emphasizes healthcare workers and household members or caregivers of medically vulnerable individuals.
In response to the emergence of new COVID-19 variants, Singapore will introduce updated vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. These updated formulations are designed to target the latest variants and will gradually replace existing vaccines by November 20, 2023.
The Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty vaccine update is intended to address the Omicron XBB.1.5 sublineage, which includes variants like EG.5 or Eris and BA.2.86. Individuals aged five years and above can receive the updated Pfizer vaccine from October 30, while children aged six months to four years will have access starting November 20.
The updated Moderna/Spikevax vaccine, similarly designed to combat newer variants, will be available to individuals aged six months and above starting from November 14, 2023.
To accommodate the expected increase in demand for the updated vaccines, vaccination centers will extend their operating hours on Saturdays from November 4 to December 2, staying open from 9 am to 7 pm, instead of the usual 1 pm closing time.
Health authorities noted that the incidence of adverse reactions to mRNA vaccines, both monovalent and bivalent versions, remains rare, with a reported rate of 0.10% for adverse reactions and 0.007% for serious adverse reactions as of September 30. The occurrence of myocarditis, a rare side effect, was reported at a rate of 1.0 per 100,000 doses (0.001%) for monovalent vaccines and 0.4 per 100,000 doses (0.0004%) for bivalent vaccines.
Singapore's Ministry of Health emphasized that vaccination remains the primary defense against COVID-19 and is both safe and effective. They encourage all eligible individuals to stay up to date with their vaccinations to maintain protection against the virus.
