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9. Regulatory sandbox

The Licensing Experimentation and Adaptation Programme (LEAP) by MOH supports innovative healthcare services through regulatory sandboxes.

Last updated 28 October 2024

Launched in 2018, LEAP is a regulatory sandbox initiative to better understand new innovative services by partnering early with industry. This allows us to review an effective, efficient and appropriate way to support innovation, while delivering care that prioritises patient safety and welfare.

MOH continually keeps a lookout for opportunities to work with industry partners to create regulatory sandboxes for new and innovative healthcare services.

If you are interested in setting up innovative healthcare services, please submit this online form. The Ministry of Health (MOH) will send an email via LEAP_Sandbox@moh.gov.sg within five working days to acknowledge your submission, and if need be, MOH may request further clarifications.

Regulatory sandbox with MOH
Community Pharmacist Influenza Vaccination Sandbox

Background

Vaccinations are a cornerstone of public health, significantly reducing illness and death from preventable diseases. However, one of the hurdles to getting vaccinated is accessibility. By empowering our community pharmacists to administer vaccines, we hope to make flu vaccination more accessible, taking proactive steps towards a healthier Singapore.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has established a regulatory sandbox to create a safe and regulated environment for community pharmacists to provide influenza vaccinations at participating retail pharmacies for eligible individuals aged 18 and above who do not have certain medical conditions. This Sandbox helps to encourage innovation in the healthcare sector by reducing regulatory barriers to providing new healthcare services while protecting public interest. Pharmacists will be upskilled and be able to better serve the community.

Under this sandbox, community pharmacists (also known as Pharmacist Vaccinators) have undergone a series of additional training and competency assessments to ensure their competency at administering influenza vaccination. The details of the Pharmacist Vaccinators are in Table 1. MOH has also inspected the participating retail pharmacies (also known as Sandbox Pharmacies) to ensure they have implemented the required patient safety measures and standards. All vaccinated individuals will be observed for 15 minutes post-vaccination, with protocols in place for pharmacists to manage and provide advice on potential side effects.

This sandbox will commence from 28 October 2024. The sandbox is targeted to minimally run for a year prior to licensing community pharmacist vaccination services under the Healthcare Services Act 2020.

Exclusion criteria for vaccination Community Pharmacist Influenza Vaccination Sandbox

  • Persons with medical history of seizure; 

  • Persons with medical history of serious reaction after any vaccination; 

  • Persons with medical history of vasovagal syncope/presyncope after any injection; 

  • Persons with a history of Guillain-Barre Syndrome; 

  • Pregnant women; 

  • Persons who may be contraindicated for the particular vaccine as listed by the in the manufacturer’s product insert, which may include persons with any history of anaphylaxis or allergic reactions to components in the vaccines; 

  • Persons having fever, a respiratory infection like flu, common cold or pneumonia, or are feeling unwell; and 

  • Persons with thrombocytopenia or coagulation disorders, or on anticoagulant therapy (including warfarin, direct oral anticoagulants or low-molecular-weight heparin). 

If these ineligible individuals are keen to be vaccinated, they may wish to consult their doctor for further advice.

Subsidies

Subsidies will be available for eligible individuals who are recommended to receive the influenza vaccination under the National Adult Immunisation Schedule (NAIS). Eligible Singapore Citizens receiving influenza vaccination at a sandbox pharmacy will receive the same government subsidies as they would when they visit a Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) GP clinic. The co-payment would be capped at between $9 and $35, similar to CHAS clinics. The actual charges of vaccination at each sandbox pharmacy may vary. Please approach the participating pharmacies to confirm the subsidies you are eligible for.   

If you are enrolled in HealthierSG, the pharmacies may refer you back to your HealthierSG clinic to receive your vaccination. Eligible individuals are also encouraged to enrol in HealthierSG as you may be entitled to fully subsidised influenza vaccination under HealthierSG. Please approach your HealthierSG clinic for further enquiries.

Approved Locations where community pharmacist influenza vaccinations can be administered

1)      Watsons Personal Care Stores Pte Ltd (Paragon)
290, Orchard Rd, #B1-27/27A, The Paragon, Singapore 238859

2)      Guardian Pharmacy (Serangoon Nex)
23, Serangoon Central, #B1-62/63, NEX, Singapore 556083

3)      Unity Parkway Parade (Inside FairPrice Xtra)
80, Marine Parade Road #03-28, Parkway Parade, 449269

Table 1: Details of approved Pharmacist Vaccinators:

S/N

Pharmacist

Employer

1

CAROLYN CHAN LI MIN

Unity

2

ONG HENG BOON

Watsons

3

CHUNG WING LAM

Watsons

4

ANG WEI MIN

Watsons

5

WU WEI JIE

Guardian

6

CAI ZIQIN

Guardian

7

SOH JIA SHING

Guardian

8

YAP WAI LENG

Guardian

See launch of Community Pharmacist Influenza Vaccination Sandbox by Minister Ong Ye Kung on 28 October 2024 here.

For feedback or enquiries, please email LEAP_Sandbox@moh.gov.sg