SINGAPORE: Singapore will begin offering COVID-19 vaccinations for children between the ages of six months and four years starting on Oct 25, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Friday (Oct 7).
Children between the ages of five and 11 will also be able to get their booster doses from this date, MOH said in a news release.
This is "to ensure that our children attain a minimum level of protection and remain up-to-date with their vaccinations", MOH added.
Children aged between six months and four years will be able to receive the Moderna/Spikevax vaccine for their primary vaccination.
Those aged between five and 11 will able to receive the Pfizer-BioNTach/Comirnaty vaccine as a booster dose.
"MOH has accepted the recommendation of the Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination (EC19V) that children aged 6 months and above be vaccinated against COVID-19," the ministry said.
"Following the Health Sciences Authority's (HSA) authorisation of the Moderna/Spikevax vaccine for use in children aged six months to five years, the EC19V recommends the vaccine for primary vaccination for this age group."
The recommended Moderna/Spikevax vaccine dosage for this age group is two doses of 25 micrograms each, spaced eight weeks apart.
"The vaccine from Pfizer BioNTech/Comirnaty, which is a three-dose vaccine for children aged 6 months to 4 years, has also been approved and we are awaiting delivery. It should be available by the end of the year," MOH added.
MOH said it would also roll out bivalent vaccines for booster jabs later this month.
"This updated bivalent vaccine will provide better protection against newer COVID-19 variants," it said.
"MOH will therefore replace the original Moderna/Spikevax vaccines with the updated bivalent version from Oct 17, 2022, for all vaccinations using the Moderna/Spikevax vaccine, for all adults aged 18 years and above.
"Hence, for persons aged 50 and above, or for persons yet to achieve minimum protection, as they are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 infection, they should take the bivalent vaccines."
The Pfizer/Comirnaty bivalent vaccine is undergoing evaluation and is expected to be available by the end of this year, the ministry added.
It also announced a transition away from the current system of counting jabs.
"Instead of counting the number of shots and boosters we receive, we will transit to a new definition of up-to-date vaccination," the ministry said.
"This is similar to influenza vaccination, where individuals are advised to take them periodically, so as to protect ourselves against new strains of the endemic Influenza virus as they arise."
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Children between the ages of five and 11 will also be able to get their booster doses from this date, MOH said in a news release.
This is "to ensure that our children attain a minimum level of protection and remain up-to-date with their vaccinations", MOH added.
Children aged between six months and four years will be able to receive the Moderna/Spikevax vaccine for their primary vaccination.
Those aged between five and 11 will able to receive the Pfizer-BioNTach/Comirnaty vaccine as a booster dose.
"MOH has accepted the recommendation of the Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination (EC19V) that children aged 6 months and above be vaccinated against COVID-19," the ministry said.
"Following the Health Sciences Authority's (HSA) authorisation of the Moderna/Spikevax vaccine for use in children aged six months to five years, the EC19V recommends the vaccine for primary vaccination for this age group."
The recommended Moderna/Spikevax vaccine dosage for this age group is two doses of 25 micrograms each, spaced eight weeks apart.
"The vaccine from Pfizer BioNTech/Comirnaty, which is a three-dose vaccine for children aged 6 months to 4 years, has also been approved and we are awaiting delivery. It should be available by the end of the year," MOH added.
FROM MRNA TO BIVALENT
MOH said it would also roll out bivalent vaccines for booster jabs later this month.
"This updated bivalent vaccine will provide better protection against newer COVID-19 variants," it said.
"MOH will therefore replace the original Moderna/Spikevax vaccines with the updated bivalent version from Oct 17, 2022, for all vaccinations using the Moderna/Spikevax vaccine, for all adults aged 18 years and above.
"Hence, for persons aged 50 and above, or for persons yet to achieve minimum protection, as they are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 infection, they should take the bivalent vaccines."
The Pfizer/Comirnaty bivalent vaccine is undergoing evaluation and is expected to be available by the end of this year, the ministry added.
It also announced a transition away from the current system of counting jabs.
"Instead of counting the number of shots and boosters we receive, we will transit to a new definition of up-to-date vaccination," the ministry said.
"This is similar to influenza vaccination, where individuals are advised to take them periodically, so as to protect ourselves against new strains of the endemic Influenza virus as they arise."
Continue reading...