Vaccines and Masks

NOTICE PAPER NO. 2071
NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER
FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 18 SEPTEMBER 2023

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Mr Saktiandi Supaat
MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC

Question No. 4889 

To ask the Minister for Health (a) whether the Government’s position is that non-vulnerable Singaporeans should continue to get their booster shots to keep their vaccination against COVID-19 current; and (b) how long more will Singaporeans continue to be able to get their booster shots free-of-charge.

NOTICE PAPER NO. 2176
NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER
FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 18 SEPTEMBER 2023

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Dr Lim Wee Kiak
MP for Sembawang GRC

Question No. 5060

To ask the Minister for Health (a) whether an update can be provided on the Ministry's review of the remaining post-COVID-19 measures currently in place such as the mask-wearing requirement in healthcare settings; (b) whether there are plans to modify this measure to make mask-wearing non-mandatory in healthcare settings; and (c) if so, when will this change take place.

NOTICE PAPER NO. 2167
NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON OR AFTER 19 SEPTEMBER 2023

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Ms Joan Pereira
MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC

Question No. 4933 

To ask the Minister for Health in view of the COVID-19 variant EG.5 which is designated a variant of interest by the World Health Organisation, whether Singapore's vaccine strategy will incorporate booster doses of updated vaccines.

Answer

1     Mr Speaker, may I have your permission to take Question 6 and 7 together? My response will also cover the matters raised in the written question 4933 by Ms Joan Pereira which is scheduled for a subsequent sitting.

2     Since the transition to DORSCON GREEN in February 2023, all COVID-19 measures have been stepped down, with the exception of the National Vaccination Programme (NVP) which serves as our first line of defence against the fast mutating COVID-19 virus. However, we have also adjusted our normal practices, such as requiring mask wearing in patient-facing settings to better protect patients and healthcare workers from respiratory infectious diseases in general, not just for COVID-19. The Ministry of Health (MOH) will continue to monitor the broader communicable disease situation, review our disease control practices and adjust our approach. 

COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendation

3     New COVID-19 variants will continue to emerge.  The latest variants of interests are EG.5 and BA.2.86, which have a number of additional mutations compared with previous Omicron variants. Fortunately, so far, the scientific and empirical evidence show that existing vaccines continue to provide good protection against severe illness for individuals.  

4     The pharmaceutical industry continues to update the COVID-19 vaccines to preserve its effectiveness against new variants. For example, Pfizer’s latest vaccine specifically targets XBB.1.5.  Our contracts with the suppliers enable us to procure the latest vaccines once they are assessed to be appropriate for the local situation. 

5     Recently, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has approved the monovalent XBB.1.5 vaccine from Pfizer for patients aged 6 months and above and are reviewing other XBB.1.5 vaccines. The Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination is currently reviewing data of the updated Comirnaty vaccine and will be providing its recommendations. The updated Comirnaty vaccine could arrive in Singapore by end-October. We will share more details when operational arrangements are confirmed.

6     We were able to achieve DORSCON Green not because COVID-19 became a mild disease. It is still a dangerous virus, especially for vulnerable individuals and seniors. We can live with the virus now because our resilience has strengthened, due to vaccinations and safe recovery from infections.  

7     It is therefore important for us to maintain our resilience. That is why MOH strongly recommends that seniors aged 60 years and above, as well as residents living in aged care facilities and medically vulnerable persons, continue to receive a booster dose of the updated vaccine one year after their last booster dose. Healthy persons aged 12 to 59 years may also receive the additional dose in 2023, which remains free under the NVP, if they choose to. There are no plans to charge for COVID-19 vaccines, because vaccines still play a critical role in keeping COVID-19 at bay.