OYK has 2 significant announcements.
https://www.facebook.com/ongyekung?__tn__=<<*F
Ministry of Health, Singapore made two significant vaccine-related announcements last night.
First, we join other countries such as US, Canada, Australia, Israel, and member states of the European Union to extend vaccination to children aged 5 to 11, after clinical trials showed that it is safe and effective.
The children doses are one third that of adult doses. Ministry of Education, Singapore will follow up with detailed announcements.
Second, we will extend boosters to young people aged 18 to 29, if their second doses were taken 5 months ago or longer.
With these changes, we expect to administer over two million doses of vaccines over two months in Dec 2021 and Jan 2022.
This is critically important, to help us prepare for the emergence of Omicron variant in Singapore. Preliminary studies have shown that it is more transmissible than Delta. Hence, it will be a matter of time before it establishes itself all over the world, and even overtake Delta as the dominant variant.
Initial indications are that Omicron infections cause milder symptoms. However, because of the potentially large base of infections due to high transmissibility, even a small proportion of people falling very sick can put our healthcare system under severe pressure.
The best course of action is still to watch our personal hygiene, observe safe management measures especially mask wearing, and importantly, get vaccinated if you have not, and boostered if you are due.
For the booster shots, the two mRNA vaccines can be used interchangeably. For example, Minister Lawrence Wong and I both took Pfizer-BioNTech for our first two shots, and Moderna for our third.
Until we receive more deliveries in Jan 2022, we have more Moderna stocks than Pfizer/BioNTech. Hence for Moderna centres, you can just walk in and there is no need to book an appointment. MOH encourages you not to wait, and if due, go get your booster shots regardless of which mRNA vaccine. This is the best way to get prepared for Omicron.
https://www.facebook.com/ongyekung?__tn__=<<*F
Ong Ye Kung
9 hrs ·Ministry of Health, Singapore made two significant vaccine-related announcements last night.
First, we join other countries such as US, Canada, Australia, Israel, and member states of the European Union to extend vaccination to children aged 5 to 11, after clinical trials showed that it is safe and effective.
The children doses are one third that of adult doses. Ministry of Education, Singapore will follow up with detailed announcements.
Second, we will extend boosters to young people aged 18 to 29, if their second doses were taken 5 months ago or longer.
With these changes, we expect to administer over two million doses of vaccines over two months in Dec 2021 and Jan 2022.
This is critically important, to help us prepare for the emergence of Omicron variant in Singapore. Preliminary studies have shown that it is more transmissible than Delta. Hence, it will be a matter of time before it establishes itself all over the world, and even overtake Delta as the dominant variant.
Initial indications are that Omicron infections cause milder symptoms. However, because of the potentially large base of infections due to high transmissibility, even a small proportion of people falling very sick can put our healthcare system under severe pressure.
The best course of action is still to watch our personal hygiene, observe safe management measures especially mask wearing, and importantly, get vaccinated if you have not, and boostered if you are due.
For the booster shots, the two mRNA vaccines can be used interchangeably. For example, Minister Lawrence Wong and I both took Pfizer-BioNTech for our first two shots, and Moderna for our third.
Until we receive more deliveries in Jan 2022, we have more Moderna stocks than Pfizer/BioNTech. Hence for Moderna centres, you can just walk in and there is no need to book an appointment. MOH encourages you not to wait, and if due, go get your booster shots regardless of which mRNA vaccine. This is the best way to get prepared for Omicron.
