New Guidance Encourages Additional Dose for Those Aged 6 Months and Above, as Vaccine Rollout Begins

In a significant update to its COVID-19 vaccination strategy, Singapore has announced that individuals aged six months and older are now encouraged to receive an additional COVID-19 vaccine dose in either 2023 or 2024. This recommendation from the Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination (EC19V) marks a shift from earlier guidelines that limited the booster to those over 60, residents of aged care facilities, and those with medical vulnerabilities.

The new advice aims to ensure widespread immunity as the virus continues to evolve. The updated guidance particularly highlights healthcare workers, as well as household members and caregivers of vulnerable individuals, stressing the importance of maintaining up-to-date vaccination status.

The approval of new, updated COVID-19 vaccines by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna has coincided with this shift. These vaccines are designed to target newer variants of the virus, including Omicron XBB.1.5 and its sublineages like EG.5 (Eris) and BA.2.86. The Health Ministry has confirmed that a phased rollout will begin on October 30, with the new doses expected to replace existing vaccines by November 20.

The Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty monovalent vaccine will be available to those aged five and older from October 30. Meanwhile, children between six months and four years old will be able to access it starting November 20. Moderna’s updated Spikevax monovalent vaccine will become available to individuals six months and older from November 14.

In anticipation of high demand for these updated vaccines, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has extended the operating hours of all Joint Testing and Vaccination Centres on Saturdays, from 9 AM to 7 PM, beginning November 4 until December 2. The extended hours aim to accommodate the influx of individuals seeking vaccination, though the MOH has warned of longer wait times, especially on Fridays and Saturdays.

As of September 30, the MOH noted that adverse reactions to the mRNA vaccines remained rare, with serious adverse reactions occurring in just 0.007 percent of cases. Cases of myocarditis were also extremely uncommon, with rates of 0.001 percent for the monovalent vaccines and 0.0004 percent for the bivalent vaccines.