Shots for students ahead of some adults a sensible strategy

Its implications make economic sense: prioritising today's students protects continuity of tomorrow's workforce

Annabeth Leow

Published Fri, Jun 4, 2021 · 05:50 AM

Singapore

SINGAPORE'S latest decision to offer Covid-19 vaccines first to students - and then to adults under 40 years old - has been panned by some on the grounds of unfairness.

But the move, criticised by some, makes economic sense when its implications are taken into account: prioritising today's students protects the continuity of tomorrow's workforce.

To begin with, students must congregate in larger-scale settings in educational institutions. This is in contrast with the situation at workplaces, which had capacity limits of 50 per cent to 75 per cent even when work-from-home restrictions eased.

Then, if workplaces are closed for a spell to prevent transmission, the government…