Singapore aims to fully vaccinate two-thirds of population by National Day

Singapore will accelerate its national vaccination programme from this Saturday and the aim is to fully vaccinate two-thirds of the population by National Day on Aug 9, the multi-ministry task force on Covid-19 said at a press conference on Thursday.

The target was raised after the Health Ministry (MOH) managed to bring forward vaccine supply deliveries. Up to 80,000 doses will be administered daily from June 26, up from 47,000 currently and 40,000 in May.

"It's an ambitious target, but supplies permitting, we will be able to achieve this as we continue to ramp up our vaccination," said Finance Minister Lawrence Wong.

He added that public health guidelines for vaccinated persons will be revised over the next few weeks as vaccinations are ramped up. For instance, vaccinated persons may be allowed to gather in larger groups with more relaxed social distancing rules.

Depending on which countries vaccinated individuals travel to, they may also be allowed to serve shortened quarantine or stay-home notice periods upon their return to Singapore, or waive the quarantine period entirely and replace it with Covid-19 tests.

In the coming days, 500,000 new first dose appointment slots will be added for the period from now until mid-July. More additional slots will be added in the subsequent weeks.

As of June 23, about three million people have been vaccinated with at least one dose, and about two million of them have completed the full vaccination regime. This translates to 53 per cent of the local population having received at least one jab, and 36 per cent having received both doses, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung.

The two-week priority window for Singapore citizens aged 12 to 39 years to register for their first doses will be extended by a week to July 1. Those who have already booked a slot for their first dose, with appointments in mid to end July 2021, are encouraged to bring forward their appointments as well.

Permanent residents and long-term pass holders will be invited to book their appointments from July 2.

"We hope that supplies will continue to arrive and enable us to sustain this pace of 80,000 doses per day through July and then August," said Mr Ong. "If we can do that, then somewhere in second half of July, we will have substantively administered most, if not all, first doses to people who are willing to take it."

If vaccine supplies continue to arrive as planned, MOH will also review the current delayed dose regime of six to eight weeks between doses with a view to shorten it to four weeks.