Booster shots standardised to 5 months after last shot for all age groups

BOOSTER vaccinations for all age groups will now be standardised to 5 months after the last shot, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Saturday (Nov 20). The new arrangement is effective from Nov 24.

"There is an emerging view among the clinical and scientific communities globally that this is really a 3-dose vaccine, just like Hepatitis B," Ong said during a multi-ministry taskforce press briefing.

From now until the end of December, the government is looking to administer about 1.5 million boosters, raising coverage from 21 per cent of the Republic's population to about 50 per cent, Ong added.

The move follows the latest recommendation from the Republic's Expert Committee on Covid-19 Vaccination, after a study of international and local data. The waning of antibodies has been found to "clearly occur" by around six months after the second dose, occurring earlier for older groups.

Eligible persons will now be able to receive their boosters starting from five months after completing their primary series of two doses of mRNA vaccines. SMS invitations will be sent before that to provide individuals with more flexibility in planning their booster shots, before significant waning in protection occurs.

"We encourage everyone eligible for the booster vaccination to receive it when it is offered to them, so as to achieve high levels of protection," the MTF said in a press statement.

Those who are eligible but have not received their SMS invitations are invited to walk into any Moderna Vaccination Centre to receive their booster vaccination without a need to book an appointment.

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