Healthcare and frontline workers likely to receive Covid-19 vaccine booster shots: MOH
SINGAPORE — Covid-19 booster shots will likely be extended to healthcare and frontline workers, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Saturday (Oct 2).
SINGAPORE — Covid-19 booster shots will likely be extended to healthcare and frontline workers, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Saturday (Oct 2).
In a statement, the ministry said that the expert committee on Covid-19 vaccination has been deliberating on recommending booster vaccination for a few more population groups, such as healthcare workers, frontline workers and persons in other vulnerable settings beyond nursing homes.
MOH did not say when this is likely to happen, but said more details will be announced by the expert committee when ready.
The ministry noted that booster shots have been recommended in some countries and “there is good basis to do so”.
“Booster vaccination enhances our protection against Covid-19 infection and hence also against severe disease. This is an important way we can protect ourselves from Covid-19 and slow its transmission in the face of rising local cases,” said the ministry in its statement.
The ministry said that it awaits the committee’s formal recommendation of extending booster shots to other groups, but stands “fully ready to support this extension”.
Under the ongoing national vaccination programme,booster shots of Covid-19 vaccines are currently offered to seniors and those with weakened immune systems.
About 237,000 seniors have received booster shots so far, said Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong, during a press conference by the national Covid-19 task force on Saturday.
Mr Gan is a co-chair of the task force.