Unvaccinated barred from workplaces from Jan 1, 2022; Singapore approves Sinovac use

SINGAPORE is allowing only fully-innoculated people to return to the office from Jan 1, 2022.

Exceptions will be made for unvaccinated staff to return to their workplaces if they test negative from a pre-event test done at an approved provider, or have recovered from Covid-19 within the past 270 days. They would need to pay for the costs of these tests.

The testing requirements will also not apply to medically ineligible persons, and employers should grant special considerations to these groups, such as allowing them to work from home. (See amendment note)

These moves were announced by the multi-ministry taskforce on Saturday (Oct 23). During a briefing, the taskforce also announced that China-made Sinovac vaccines have been added to Singapore's Covid-19 national vaccination programme in the Republic's push to further raise vaccination rates 

The inclusion of the Sinovac-CoronaVac Covid-19 vaccine follows the Health Sciences Authority's (HSA) interim authorisation of the vaccine under the Pandemic Special Access Route, according to a statement from the Ministry of Health (MOH).

Singapore received its first shipment of the Sinovac vaccine in February, and it was offered at private clinics from June, as an alternative to the 2 messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines - made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna - in the national vaccination programme.

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So far, over 84 per cent of the population have been fully vaccinated.

"Some of these unvaccinated individuals are unable to take the mRNA vaccines due to medical reasons. Others may just simply prefer a non-mRNA vaccine. So we will make Sinovac vaccine more accessible to them, to encourage them to get vaccinated," Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, who co-chairs the taskforce, said during a briefing.

He added that MOH is in the process of securing more supplies of Sinovac in anticipation of the increased demand for them.

However, given the lower vaccine efficacy of Sinovac vaccines - estimated to be 51 per cent, MOH said individuals who can take the mRNA vaccines should do so, based on guidelines by the expert committee on Covid-19 vaccination.

The efficacy of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are said to be 95 per cent and 94 per cent respectively.

MOH added that individuals who have received only 1 or 2 doses of the Sinovac vaccine are strongly encouraged to complete a 3-dose primary series regime with the mRNA vaccines as it offers more optimal protection.

"The Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine will be for a specific usage, namely for individuals who cannot or do not want to take the mRNA vaccines," Ong said, adding that it will not be used as boosters.

The Sinovac vaccine will also not be used for individuals aged 12 to 17, consistent with the World Health Organization's approved use under its Emergency Use Listing.

Including Sinovac under the national vaccination programme means it will be administered for free and come under the vaccine injury financial assistance programme, which provides a one-off compensation for individuals who have suffered serious side effects.

MOH said it has invited individuals aged 18 and above who are medically ineligible for mRNA vaccines to receive their Sinovac doses from Oct 20.

All individuals who have taken two doses of Sinovac will be regarded as fully vaccinated for 4 months after the second dose, or Dec 31, 2021, whichever is later, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, individuals who are medically ineligible for all vaccines under the national vaccination programme will be exempted from vaccination-differentiated safe management measures from Nov 1.

Taskforce co-chair and Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong said: "We will give a special concession for them to enter premises or participate in activities where the vaccination-differentiated safe management measures are required, such as shopping malls, attractions, hawker centres and coffee shops."

With about 96 per cent of Singapore's workforce fully vaccinated, there remains about 113,000 unvaccinated employees, with over 10 per cent of them seniors, Gan said.

Singapore Business Federation chief executive officer Lam Yi Young said the latest workforce vaccination measures will help make workplaces safer and more resilient as well as support the reopening of the economy.

"We also support the call by the tripartite partners for a concerted push by employers to get unvaccinated employees vaccinated as soon as possible," Lam said.

Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) executive director Sim Gim Guan said employers have the responsibility to make workplaces safe for their employees, adding: "As more employees return to the workplace, having all employees vaccinated will better protect the employees as well as visitor."

With the announcement coming two months before the move takes effect, this gives sufficient time for currently unvaccinated employees to get vaccinated, he said.

"SNEF strongly encourages unvaccinated employees that are not medically ineligible for vaccination to do so," said Sim, "This will help keep them, their co-workers, as well as their loved ones safe as we move towards living with Covid-19."

Amendment note: An earlier version of this story said the testing requirements will also apply to medically ineligible persons and pregnant women. An updated advisory from the Ministry of Manpower has stated that the testing requirements will not apply to medically ineligible persons, while employers are strongly encouraged to give special consideration to the needs and concerns of their pregnant employees.

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