Government to begin Sinovac Covid-19 jabs at Raffles City; walk-ins for Moderna booster shots open to more people

SINGAPORE — Individuals can make appointments to receive the Sinovac-CoronaVac Covid-19 vaccination at Raffles City Convention Centre from Saturday (Oct 30), with seniors being allowed to walk in without an appointment from Sunday.

"This will greatly expand capacity on top of the private clinics and public healthcare institutions that administer the Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine on behalf of the Ministry of Health (MOH)," said the ministry in a press release on Saturday.

Last week, the Covid-19 multi-ministry task force announced that the Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine would be included in the National Vaccination Programme.

In the press release on Saturday, MOH also announced that, from Monday, people aged 30 and above will be able to walk in to any Moderna vaccination centre for their booster dose.

Those who can walk in are Singaporeans, permanent residents and long-term pass holders aged 30 and above who have completed the second dose six months ago.

"We encourage all who are eligible but have not taken their booster dose to come forward for it. This is the best protection for you and your loved ones as we journey towards living with Covid-19," said MOH.

The vaccination centres offering the Moderna vaccine are:
• Buona Vista Community Club
• Hong Kah North Community Club
• Kebun Baru Community Club
• Potong Pasir Community Club
• Punggol 21 Community Club
• Radin Mas Community Club
• Tampines East Community Club
• Woodlands Community Club
• Yew Tee Community Club

EFFECTIVENESS OF BOOSTER SHOTS

Since the booster programme started on Sep 14, the authorities have seen a "healthy take up of booster doses among those eligible to receive them", said MOH.

As of Oct 27, among people invited to take boosters, 80.2 per cent of those aged 60 years and above, 92.7 per cent of those aged 50 to 59 years, and 75.1 per cent of those aged 30 to 49 years have received their booster dose or booked an appointment.

"MOH has studied the Covid-19 positive infection rates of individuals who have received their booster doses vis-a-vis fully vaccinated individuals who have not yet received their booster doses," said the ministry.

It found that booster doses "confer around a further 70 per cent risk reduction against Covid-19 infections, and 90 per cent risk reduction against severe infections, as compared to those who have received only two doses to date at around the same period as those who had received their boosters".

"Hence there is significant protection accorded by boosters on top of the protection that two doses of mRNA vaccines already provide against Covid-19," said MOH, referring to messenger ribonucleic acid vaccines such as the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines.

This is on top of the vaccine effectiveness of 40 to 60 per cent against infection, when comparing vaccinated versus unvaccinated individuals, and more than 90 per cent against severe illness.

"Therefore comparing individuals who are fully vaccinated and boosted, versus unvaccinated individuals, estimates combining data from different sources are that the former benefits from vaccine effectiveness of about 80 per cent or more against Covid-19 infection, and about 99 per cent against severe illness," said MOH.

More than 685,000 fully vaccinated seniors above the age of 60 who were eligible for the booster doses were included in the study done between Sep 15 and Oct 22. CNA

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