SINGAPORE: From Feb 14, those aged 18 and above will have to take a booster shot in order to maintain a fully vaccinated status against COVID-19, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Wednesday (Jan 5).
The new rule will apply to those whose final vaccine dose was taken on May 20 last year or before, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung at a multi-ministry task force press conference.
“From now to Feb 13, 2022, as long as you have taken two doses of mRNA or three doses of the Sinovac, Sinopharm vaccine, regardless of how long ago you have received those jabs, you will still be deemed as fully vaccinated," he said.
“Then on Feb 14, 2022, if your last vaccine dose was taken before May 20, 2021 - that is 270 days or nine months ago - your full vaccination status will lapse.
“So to maintain your full vaccination status, you will need to take a booster vaccine dose before the deadline of Feb 14," Mr Ong added.
Authorities are announcing this more than one month in advance "so that everyone whose vaccination status may lapse on the deadline of Feb 14 has a chance to get the booster jabs early and before the deadline", the minister added.
“Those who have not reached the ninth month expiry or who are medically ineligible for boosters, you will not be affected.”
In a press release, authorities said those who have completed a primary COVID-19 vaccination series and are eligible for a booster shot will hold a fully vaccinated status for 270 days after their last vaccine jab.
A booster shot is recommended to be taken "from around five months thereafter ... and no later than 270 days thereafter" to ensure an optimal level of protection.
“Upon receiving their booster, they will continue to be considered as fully vaccinated beyond the 270 days,” MOH said.
The Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination previously recommended for those who have completed a primary vaccination series to receive a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine no later than 270 days after the last dose in the primary vaccination series.
This will also apply to individuals who received recognised non-mRNA primary vaccination regimens offered under the National Vaccination Programme, such as three doses of the Sinovac-CoronaVac, or three doses of Sinopharm vaccines, as well as regimens of other World Health Organization emergency use list vaccines.
For this group, most will not be due for booster for some time, MOH said. “We expect the Novavax vaccine, which is a non-mRNA vaccine, to be available to them as an option by then,” it added.
Vaccination, especially boosters, retain “substantial protection” against severe disease for COVID-19 and against the Omicron variant. Nevertheless, the protection from the primary series vaccination "wanes with time" and is substantially reduced six months after the last dose in the primary vaccination series, added MOH.
The Health Ministry also said international data has showed protection against the Omicron variant from a primary vaccination series being weaker compared to that against the Delta variant, while boosters increase the protection against infection and severe illness from Omicron.
For vaccinated persons who have recovered from COVID-19, no additional booster dose is required for now, authorities added.
However, recovered persons who were unvaccinated or partially vaccinated before their infection should receive one dose of the mRNA vaccine at least three months after infection to be considered as fully vaccinated.
For recovered individuals who have received a mixed vaccine combination incorporating Sinovac-CoronaVac or Sinopharm vaccines, they are recommended to take two doses.
The 270-day vaccination validity period does not apply to recovered persons who complete this vaccination requirement, it said.
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The new rule will apply to those whose final vaccine dose was taken on May 20 last year or before, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung at a multi-ministry task force press conference.
“From now to Feb 13, 2022, as long as you have taken two doses of mRNA or three doses of the Sinovac, Sinopharm vaccine, regardless of how long ago you have received those jabs, you will still be deemed as fully vaccinated," he said.
“Then on Feb 14, 2022, if your last vaccine dose was taken before May 20, 2021 - that is 270 days or nine months ago - your full vaccination status will lapse.
“So to maintain your full vaccination status, you will need to take a booster vaccine dose before the deadline of Feb 14," Mr Ong added.
Authorities are announcing this more than one month in advance "so that everyone whose vaccination status may lapse on the deadline of Feb 14 has a chance to get the booster jabs early and before the deadline", the minister added.
“Those who have not reached the ninth month expiry or who are medically ineligible for boosters, you will not be affected.”
In a press release, authorities said those who have completed a primary COVID-19 vaccination series and are eligible for a booster shot will hold a fully vaccinated status for 270 days after their last vaccine jab.
A booster shot is recommended to be taken "from around five months thereafter ... and no later than 270 days thereafter" to ensure an optimal level of protection.
“Upon receiving their booster, they will continue to be considered as fully vaccinated beyond the 270 days,” MOH said.
Related:
The Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination previously recommended for those who have completed a primary vaccination series to receive a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine no later than 270 days after the last dose in the primary vaccination series.
This will also apply to individuals who received recognised non-mRNA primary vaccination regimens offered under the National Vaccination Programme, such as three doses of the Sinovac-CoronaVac, or three doses of Sinopharm vaccines, as well as regimens of other World Health Organization emergency use list vaccines.
For this group, most will not be due for booster for some time, MOH said. “We expect the Novavax vaccine, which is a non-mRNA vaccine, to be available to them as an option by then,” it added.
Vaccination, especially boosters, retain “substantial protection” against severe disease for COVID-19 and against the Omicron variant. Nevertheless, the protection from the primary series vaccination "wanes with time" and is substantially reduced six months after the last dose in the primary vaccination series, added MOH.
The Health Ministry also said international data has showed protection against the Omicron variant from a primary vaccination series being weaker compared to that against the Delta variant, while boosters increase the protection against infection and severe illness from Omicron.
For vaccinated persons who have recovered from COVID-19, no additional booster dose is required for now, authorities added.
However, recovered persons who were unvaccinated or partially vaccinated before their infection should receive one dose of the mRNA vaccine at least three months after infection to be considered as fully vaccinated.
For recovered individuals who have received a mixed vaccine combination incorporating Sinovac-CoronaVac or Sinopharm vaccines, they are recommended to take two doses.
The 270-day vaccination validity period does not apply to recovered persons who complete this vaccination requirement, it said.
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Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
Continue reading...