The vaccinations are free for all Singaporeans as well as long-term residents in Singapore
With the approval of the Health Sciences Authority for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 emergency vaccine in Singapore, the first shipment is expected to arrive in late December.
Speaking to his fellow citizens, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced on December 14, 2020: “Other vaccines are also expected to arrive in Singapore in the coming months, and the country will have enough vaccines for all if at all in the third quarter of next year Plan. The Ministry of Health has set up a committee of doctors and experts to recommend a vaccination strategy. “
“The committee has suggested that our entire adult population should be vaccinated, but vaccination should be voluntary. Priority will be given to those most at risk, such as frontline and health workers, and the elderly and the vulnerable. Committee that aims to gradually vaccinate the rest of the population by the end of 2021, ”said Lee of his personal confidence in the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.
The vaccinations are free for all Singaporeans as well as long-term residents in Singapore. According to the vaccination schedule presented by Pfizer-BioNTech, two doses must be given 21 days apart for people aged 16 and over. The dosage volume and financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
“Singapore has followed the development of more than 200 COVID-19 vaccines in the running and was in close contact with pharmaceutical companies at an early stage. The government secured prepayment agreements with early deposits for the most promising candidates, including Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech and Sinovac. Singapore had set aside more than S $ 1 billion for the exercise, ”said Lee.
“We have agreements with pharmaceutical companies to facilitate their clinical trials and drug development in Singapore, and we have attracted some to build vaccine manufacturing capacities here. Local efforts to develop a vaccine were also supported, giving Singapore scientists and researchers the opportunity to excel and be covered in the event of a disrupted global supply chain, ”he said.
Lee appreciated Singapore’s strong cargo handling ecosystem, which will be a boon to cold chain management as the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine must be stored at minus 70 degrees Celsius. Local international logistics companies like DHL and FedEx will play an important role in the shipping of vaccines, as will airline employees who are certified to handle and transport pharmaceutical products.