COVID-19: 7,000 aviation workers in Singapore to be vaccinated this week – CAAS
SINGAPORE — The vaccination of Singapore’s aviation workers began on Monday (18 January) with some 7,000 of them scheduled to get their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine this week.
Located at Changi Airport Terminal 4 (T4), the vaccination centre at T4 can vaccinate 2,000 persons each day, and scale up to handle more over time, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said in a statement on Monday.
The planned vaccination of the air crew and airport workers is under the Sea–Air Vaccination Exercise (SAVE).
“Priority will be given to the 20,000 frontline workers who may come into contact with travellers from high risk countries, as well as their belongings,” the CAAS said.
These workers include pilots, cabin crew, airport and aircraft cleaners, security screeners, passenger service agents, baggage handlers and cargo handlers. They are from companies such as Singapore Airlines (SIA), Scoot, Jetstar Asia, SATS, dnata, Certis, Sergent Services and Changi Airport Group, as well as the CAAS.
Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung, who was at T4 to witness the start of the vaccination exercise for the aviation workers, received his vaccine jab along with SIA CEO Goh Choon Phong and Alex Hungate, president and CEO of Sats, according to a report by The Straits Times.
In view of the better protection offered by vaccination, air crew and airport workers who have completed their full course of vaccination can undergo fewer testing requirements, CAAS said.
Those who are on the 7-day rostered routine testing (RRT) will only need to be tested every 14 days while those who are on the 14-day RRT will only need to be tested on a monthly basis.
Air crew who are currently tested on the seventh day after their return to Singapore will be exempted from their test. Those who are tested on arrival in Singapore, and on the third and seventh day, will only need to be tested on arrival, and on the seventh day of their return to Singapore.
“Vaccination is a priority for us. We have sufficient doses to vaccinate all 20,000 frontline air crew and airport workers. Vaccination is safe. More than 1,000 aviation workers have already received their first dose. We strongly encourage air crew and airport workers to come forward for vaccination,” said Kevin Shum, CAAS Director-General.
A total of 37,000 frontline workers in the aviation and maritime sectors are expected to be vaccinated during the exercise within the next two months.
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