COVID: Singapore offers booster shots to those 30 and above who are vaccinated
SINGAPORE — Booster vaccination shots will be offered to persons aged 30 years and above who have completed their vaccination regimen around six months ago from Saturday (9 October), the multi-ministry taskforce on COVID said.
An SMS with a personalised booking link will be sent to the mobile number that the persons had registered for their first two doses to book an appointment. They may receive their booster dose at any vaccination centre or participating Public Health Preparedness Clinic (PHPC).
Similarly, booster shots will be offered to healthcare workers and frontline COVID-19 workers who have completed their vaccination regimen around six months ago. The authorities are working with various institutions to progressively roll out booster vaccinations to eligible persons in institutionalised settings.
The announcement comes after the recommendations by the Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination (EC19V) for persons aged at least 30, and healthcare and frontline workers to get their booster shots.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a statement that healthcare and frontline workers are more likely to come into regular contact with COVID-19 cases and are at greater risk of infection.
Persons and staff in institutionalised settings, such as prisons and residential care facilities, are in settings predisposed to large outbreaks of COVID-19.
“Expanding the booster programme to persons aged 30 and above will also help to raise the overall level of protection in the population,” MOH said.
On 3 October, Singapore started the booster programme for persons aged 50 to 59 years, in addition to those aged 60 years and above.
As of 7 October, almost 372,000 persons have received their booster dose. About 57 per cent of persons aged 50 to 59 years and 72 per cent of seniors aged 60 years and above who are eligible for their booster dose have either booked an appointment or already received their booster dose.
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