Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
Inhabitant Singapore start the booster vaccine injection. Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong so the first to receive a booster vaccine injection on Friday (17/9). Previously he received the vaccine Pfizer at the end of January.
Lee also invited his citizens to receive booster vaccines.
“Cases are increasing rapidly. Booster injections will strengthen your protection against Covid-19,” Lee said in a Facebook post, quoted by Channel News Asia.
“If you are offered a booster (vaccine), take it. This will reduce the chances of you becoming seriously ill, or needing ICU care.”
Lee also said that seniors over 60 years old who had received the vaccine for more than six months would receive a short message regarding scheduling a third or booster vaccination.
Previously, the Singapore government also announced that it had begun distributing booster vaccines to various community groups. People with moderate to severe autoimmune disease, the elderly over 60 years, and residents of nursing homes.
The committee of Covid-19 vaccination experts recommends the use of a booster vaccine for people aged 60 years and over. This vaccination is done within a span of six to nine months after receiving the full dose.
In addition, the Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) also said that the elderly were vulnerable to contracting severe illnesses due to Covid-19. There is also the possibility of a decrease in antibodies even after receiving the full dose.
For the immunocompromised group, MOH said that they also have the potential to experience severe symptoms if exposed to Covid-19. This group should receive a booster vaccine two months after receiving the full dose.
“As part of their primary vaccination program to ensure that they start with an adequate protective immune response to vaccination”, said MOH.
Previously, Singapore also investigated the use of non-mRNA vaccines as boosters.
The Singapore Ministry of Health’s Committee of Experts (MOH) stated that they are “actively studying heterologous strategies involving non-mRNA vaccines”.
In addition, Singapore is also gathering cooperation with various companies related to the plan to give this booster vaccine.
“We are negotiating with suppliers to provide us with injections of non-mRNA boosters, and some are preparing their applications for PSAR (pandemic-only access point),” said Health Minister Janil Puthucheary.
Several types of non-mRNA vaccines recommended by WHO are Oxford-AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, and Sinopharm.
(pwn / bac)
– .
