A civic duty to help stem the spread

THIS WEEK'S TOPIC: As an employer, would you encourage your staff to get vaccinated against Covid-19? Will you get the jab yourself when your turn comes?

Violet Lim CEO & Co-Founder Lunch Actually

As a Covid-19 survivor, I have personally experienced the immense stress that one and one's family have to go through. Thus, I would definitely take the jab when my turn comes, and I would strongly encourage my associates to do the same. Our company would also provide time off for associates who are going for their vaccination. There are, of course, certain risks attached to getting vaccinated. However, if we all take the ''wait and see'' approach, then nobody would end up taking the vaccination and it defeats the efforts of trying to achieve herd immunity through inoculation. I believe we, as business leaders, all have the responsibility to step up, lead by example and do our part.

David Kuo Co-founder The Smart Investor

To beat the pandemic, strong leadership is required. It means that leaders need to demonstrate full confidence in the work of pharmaceutical companies to develop effective vaccines and the professionalism of regulators to approve only the safest medicines for us to use. It also requires total transparency. So, do not ask someone to do something that we would not readily do ourselves. It also requires social cohesion, which Singaporeans have demonstrated with passion. Consequently, we all have a part to play. And to beat the awful pandemic we need vaccines. We now have them. So, let us not throw away the opportunity.

Seah Kian Peng Group CEO NTUC Enterprise/NTUC Fairprice

My short and quick answer is ''yes''. I believe the majority of us are keen to receive the vaccination, but there will be a few who say - ''let's wait and see''. This is simply wrong. Whether efficacy is 80/90/95 per cent, any protection is better than no protection - and it is not just benefitting the person vaccinated, but for our loved ones and community. We are as strong as our weakest link and I would rather be the former than the latter. Wearing my hat as an employer, NTUC is in many essential services - childcare, eldercare, grocery, F&B, health - so there is an added dimension to our impact on society too. Vaccination is a civic duty and I encourage all to do it.

Adam Reynolds Asia Pacific CEO Saxo Markets

As an employer, I will definitely encourage my staff to be vaccinated as I see that the community needs a high level of vaccination compliance to create herd immunity and keep the more vulnerable segments of the population safe. Singapore has done a great job in controlling the virus and it would be a travesty to fail to achieve a significant level of herd immunity through vaccination due to misguided anti-vaxxer concerns. I will take the vaccination myself as soon as it is available to the general public, although that is partially for the less altruistic reason of being able to travel somewhat more freely again. I envisage that airlines and countries will start to open up to travel without quarantine for those with a verifiable vaccination certificate later this year.

Lawrence Loh Director, Centre for Governance & Sustainability NUS Business School

Ode to coronavirus Conquer the big vast world that little virus Only hope the vaccine touches like Midas Rally the people why wait On the jab why need bait New hope the light end of tunnel All must clear this funnel Virus yes it upsets enterprise Individual action now prevents reprise Really really will it work Unite only to clear the murk So surely surely do not wait

Yeoh Oon Jin Executive Chairman PwC Singapore

To me, as a business leader and employer, the arrival of the first batch of Covid-19 vaccines was like a beacon of light at the end of this pandemic tunnel. While safety and efficacy risks associated with the new vaccine make it difficult to advocate vaccinating everyone, the clinical data that is currently available is encouraging. I believe that this vaccine will help in our SGUnited fight against Covid-19, and I, for one, am ready to take this jab. At PwC Singapore, we have always put the health and well-being of our people first, and we will continue to show that we care by providing support to our staff who want to be vaccinated through appropriate means when the vaccines become available.

Victor Mills Chief Executive Singapore International Chamber of Commerce

Vaccination is essential to combat the virus and to protect lives. More than that, vaccination is our route to being able to restore travel and our ability to meet in person for business and to enjoy the arts and sports. Quite simply, vaccination is a key enabler of rebuilding our economy and our quality of life. It is exactly the same for everybody and every country. I certainly will encourage all my colleagues to vaccinate themselves and their families against the virus. I personally look forward to my turn to be vaccinated. Vaccination is in the best interests of each person and all communities.

Max Loh EY Managing Partner, Singapore and Brunei Ernst & Young LLP

Getting vaccinated is a socially-responsible act, not just for our personal health and wellbeing, but also to help safeguard the interest of the wider community and stakeholders around us. While vaccination is not the panacea to all pandemic woes, it is a significantly positive way forward that allows Singapore to resume more cross-border mobility, business and social activities, which is vital to economic vitality. While recognising that vaccination is ultimately a personal choice, as an employer, we will make provisions as needed to enable, encourage and spur our people to take the vaccination. To lead by example, I will certainly accept the vaccination when offered.

John Bittleston Founder and Chair Terrific Mentors International Pte Ltd

Yes, I encourage anyone who is offered the vaccine to accept it, unless there are compelling medical reasons for not doing so. I shall certainly be vaccinated - again, unless the doctors advise against it, which I am sure will not happen. The pandemic is the most serious threat to health and livelihoods since the world became so heavily populated. The ''Spanish'' flu that occurred after WWI accounted for some 50 million deaths. Covid-19 has not caused anything similar to that many deaths, but its potential for destabilising human bodies on a wide scale is what is scaring medical officers everywhere.

Christina Teo Executive Director SAPI

The Singapore Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (SAPI) believes that people should have full confidence in the safety and efficacy of vaccines approved under Singapore's Covid-19 vaccination programme. Our member companies have dedicated all our expertise and significant resources to combatting the pandemic since 2020, and we support the expert committee on Covid-19 vaccinations' recommendation that everyone medically eligible should be vaccinated when possible to protect the nation from new outbreaks of the disease.

The biopharmaceutical industry is fully committed to sharing information about the new vaccines with the relevant regulatory bodies and addressing any misinformation related to the Covid-19 vaccines.

While the vaccines are not mandatory, we are heartened to note Health Minister Gan Kim Yong's update in Singapore's first 2021 parliament seating that on-the-ground outreach and population surveys indicate that close to 60 per cent of the public say they would get vaccinated. With a third of the population more cautious in waiting for more data before making a choice, we note that long-term data are being continuously collected. We will work closely with the Singapore government to support public outreach campaigns on vaccination against Covid-19.

Naina Subberwal Batra Chairperson & CEO AVPN

We entered 2021 with a mix of trepidation and hope. While the journey towards a post-pandemic world will be long-drawn, we can speed up the process with an effective vaccine programme delivery. By building our immunity against the virus, we are taking critical steps towards social and economic revival. In fact, by taking the vaccine we have the chance to halt the reversal of decades of progress on poverty, gender equality, education and more.

I, therefore, not only pledge to get vaccinated against Covid-19, but also encourage my team and members in our network to get inoculated - for which I will provide additional time off.

Peta Latimer CEO (Singapore) Mercer

The record speed at which the vaccine has been researched, produced and distributed is an incredible feat of science. As gatekeepers of the health and safety of their employees, employers globally are contemplating their role in facilitating the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccination. As a responsible employer that believes in an inclusive and safe culture at work, Mercer will follow the government's directive and allow colleagues to make their own decisions, while providing clear and accurate communication around the vaccines, their impact and safety. Much like the flu vaccine, the Covid-19 vaccine could be rolled into our existing health and wellness programme, an idea being discussed with our clients at present. Personally, there are some considerations - age, vulnerability, current health, family planning, etc. But social responsibility is a major consideration too, and so is doing my part to keep our community safe.

Choe Peng Sum Chief Executive Officer Pan Pacific Hotels Group

We are thankful to the Singapore government for the strategic efforts and planning to acquire sufficient vaccines for its residents. With this privilege, we should all do our part to reduce the spread of this virus and protect our community. In the hospitality industry, human connection and contact is essential. Vaccination is hence crucial to protect our staff, our guests and community at large. Vaccination will also allow life to return to pre-Covid days more assuredly. This translates to restoring confidence in cross-border travel, thereby bringing the ailing tourism sector on its track to recovery.

As a business leader and employer, I will lead by example to be inoculated, not only to protect my loved ones and colleagues, but to support it as necessary to recharge and revive the Singapore economy.

Dileep Nair Independent Director Thakral Corporation Limited

Vaccines protect the community - besides the individual. Experts believe that if two-thirds of the population get vaccinated, we will achieve herd immunity. Fortunately in Singapore, we do not have hard-core anti-vaxxers, only people who are vaccine-hesitant. They need their concerns assuaged about side-effects and safety, both of which are largely unfounded. The best tool to nudge such people is by example, led by political leadership. Likewise, business leaders should also publicly take the vaccine and urge their employees to do the same. Personally, I would have no hesitation in getting the jab myself.

It is also crucial to understand the importance of tackling the behavioural problem of actually taking the vaccination, after addressing the persuasion problem. Vaccinations must be made convenient to reduce the hassle factor. Emulating how blood donations are done at workplaces and other convenient locations would be wise. So would the suggestion of offering a lottery ticket to everyone who is vaccinated, as a prize rather than a payment. Granted the vaccine is not a silver bullet, but mass vaccination will benefit us tremendously by restoring some of the freedoms the pandemic has deprived us of.

Lee Chong Win Chief Executive Officer Logicalis Asia

Businesses have an obligation to both employees and the society at large to ensure safe working environments and to adopt safe work practices. This is part of a shared responsibility to curb the spread of Covid-19. In anticipation of the availability of Covid-19 vaccines locally, our immediate focus will be to help drive awareness based on validated data points. This will help employees be better able to decide whether or not to be vaccinated. We will encourage employees who have to perform work in higher risk environments to be vaccinated and I personally will also step up for the jab.

Chia Ngiang Hong President Real Estate Developers' Association of Singapore (REDAS)

Yes, not only will I encourage my staff to get vaccinated against Covid-19, I will also urge my Redas members to do so. Vaccines have largely proven to be successful throughout human history. Given the very stringent process in developing and testing, along with trials to ensure safety and effectiveness before approval for use, and also our HSA's rigorous review process, we ought to be confident that any approved vaccines have met the requisite criteria. Getting vaccinated will provide valuable peace of mind to management, employees and the people around them, as well as contributing to Singapore's efforts to reach a critical mass in the population achieving herd immunity. We can then better plan and take the next crucial steps towards meaningful recovery. But we should not let our guard down and must continue to be vigilant, especially against emerging new variants of Covid-19. For these reasons, I would certainly be most willing to be vaccinated once my turn comes.

Ooi Joon Aun President, Asia Pacific Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

I fully support the vaccination plan! I am also in full alignment with the current approach in prioritising the frontline hospitality workforce and the vulnerable groups. I also hope that frequent business travellers like myself - as key enablers of economic recovery - will be considered as next in the line of priority, in preparation for the reopening of regional borders.

The reality is that immunisation is currently the most promising avenue to fight this pandemic, and I am all for it, including encouraging my friends, peers and colleagues to be vaccinated when it is available.

Maren Schweizer Director Schweizer World Pte Ltd

Employers have to take a stand and play a role in Covid-19 vaccinations. We have a responsibility to amplify public health agencies' efforts and advocate vaccination among our employees. Between anti-vaccine sentiments and the amount of misinformation through social media, it is a lot about communication and playing the role of a credible fact source. Schweizer's contribution cannot end here. We cover paid time off and costs. I will get vaccinated without delay when it is my turn to gain access.

By joining in to persuade people to get vaccinated, employers will not only help themselves, but it will also benefit society. Let us think holistically and continue to combine parallel tracks of a mask, hygiene, safe distancing, limited group sizes, and digital contact tracing, besides rolling out vaccines.

Mario Singh Chief Executive Officer Fullerton Markets

The age-old maxim ''health is wealth'' is perhaps even more relevant to all of us ever since the coronavirus began running rampant all over the world. Regardless of how we view the vaccines, one thing all of us can agree on is that our health and well-being remains a top priority.

The current conversations surrounding the vaccines are both robust and pertinent. On one hand, many are relieved that the vaccines are finally here. On the other hand, many are cautious. The top concerns are the speed at which the vaccines have birthed forth, potential sideeffects that may occur, and whether the vaccine can protect against new strains. According to information on gov.sg, the vaccines comply with the World Health Organization's guidelines and meet standards of safety, quality and efficacy. Hence, I would get the jab when my turn comes and encourage our staff to get vaccinated as well.

Toby Koh Group Managing Director Ademco Security Group Pte Ltd

Absolutely! I cannot wait to get vaccinated and enter the safe zone. It is vital to get most of our residents vaccinated so we can open up our country and economy. It will also take potential stress off our healthcare system. It is a personal choice but I will certainly encourage every colleague to embrace it. Even though vaccination does not mean one is not a carrier of Covid-19, I do hope that other countries will open up to vaccinated travellers. Let us get a Singapore government rubber stamp certifying that one is vaccinated in the passport, which may be vital for future travel.

Thomas Holenia President Henkel Singapore

Experts around the world consider safe and efficient vaccines essential to protecting vulnerable groups, as well as to gradually return to a more normal way of living. At Henkel, we welcome the current or expected approval of different vaccines as an important element in the ongoing fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. Henkel recommends adhering to the guidance of the local health authorities regarding the need or possibility to receive a vaccination. We will obviously respect and support the decisions of all our employees. Personally, I look forward to getting vaccinated as soon as possible.

Laletha Nithiyanandan Managing Director Behavioural Consulting Group

As a leader I am mindful of the needs of my team and will not make them feel compelled to take the vaccination. It has to do with the fact that it is not tested properly yet and we do not really know of the side effects. The Covid-19 situation in Singapore is under control and from a business perspective, travel is no longer that important as we have found ways around it. As a parent, I will get vaccinated if that is the only way I can see my children who are abroad.

Jeffery Tan Group General Counsel Chief Sustainability Officer Jardine Cycle & Carriage

As we have seen in the past year, the chain of protection against Covid-19 is dependent on each of us playing our role in fighting this pandemic. They are from wearing masks to practising social distancing to maintaining personal hygiene practices like frequent washing of our hands. These are relatively easy decisions to make as they are all external in nature.

Now that there are available vaccines that can be injected into our bodies, we will each need to carefully evaluate their efficacy, the expert opinions and growing body of knowledge on possible side effects - weighing them in the context of our individual physical conditions, possible morbidity challenges and personal conviction.

While vaccination serves the greater good in fighting this pandemic, we should be thoughtful and thorough in making an informed decision that impacts both the community and ourselves.

Richard Kwok President The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES)

While Covid-19 vaccinations are optional in Singapore, we intend to strongly encourage and facilitate inoculation for the safety and well-being of our staff and IES members. As president of IES, I would lead by example. Although engineers are not frontline workers like healthcare professionals, we play essential roles in keeping our economic sectors going. Vaccination is a key enabler for us to be in the best position to fulfil our duties. It is important to note that the availability of these vaccines does not mean that the fight with Covid-19 is over. IES will continue to support engineers from various disciplines to enable greater safety for our people, smooth reopening of our economy and resumption of our daily activities.

Chuin Ting Weber CEO and CIO MoneyOwl

I would encourage everyone, including my colleagues, to get vaccinated against Covid-19 as soon as possible, and would definitely do so myself. Our leaders are leading by example, and given Singapore's high health safety standards, we can trust our national authorities to ensure vaccine safety. Getting vaccinated is not just about protecting ourselves, but also our loved ones and people around us. At MoneyOwl, our combination of digital and personal financial advisory services reduces the need for face-to-face meetings, but we still meet our clients in person at their request. Getting the Covid-19 vaccine would let our clients know that they are in safe and good hands in every way - from improving their financial health with our dedicated advisers, who work on salary and not on commission, to maintaining their physical well-being with advisers who are vaccinated from Covid-19.

Sng Khai Lin Co-founder and CFO Fundnel

The health and well-being of our employees have always been of paramount importance, especially since we normally engage in business travel to facilitate deal flow - a key aspect of our operations. We foresee ourselves doing so again once the authorities have deemed it safe. In this aspect, I will highly encourage my employees to get vaccinated, so they can work with peace of mind. As for me, I will get the vaccine once I can - I believe it is better to be safe than sorry!

John Ng Chief Executive Officer YTL PowerSeraya

For us, an essential service provider, the health and safety of our people are of utmost importance. As such, I am supportive of having our people inoculated and will give time off for our staff to do so as needed. With the vaccination, they can be better protected from the Covid-19 virus. This move will not only help protect their family members, but also their fellow colleagues who are working in power generation, a critical service sector. For similar reasons, I will do the same when the time comes. Moreover, the vaccination programme as outlined by the government is transparent and comprehensive, thereby giving the added assurance that the programme is very well managed.

Koh Chin Beng President The Institute of Internal Auditors Singapore

As a professional body for internal auditors, we have to meet with our members on a regular basis. If our staff are vaccinated, our members will feel more comfortable engaging and interacting with us. We encourage our staff to receive the Covid-19 vaccination, which will allow a safe return to the workplace and drive economic recovery. As the president of the Institute, I can lead by example and be the first to take the shots. At the end of the day, we will treat our staff like adults, allowing them to make the decision to be vaccinated or not. The vaccine is our best line of defence against the virus. By getting vaccinated, I am not just protecting myself. I am also doing my part to protect others. Everyone plays a part. When more of us are vaccinated, it will be harder for the virus to spread.

Tan Mui Huat President and CEO, Asia International SOS

The Covid-19 vaccine is a major milestone in containing this pandemic and reopening the economy. With the government announcing its immunisation campaign, businesses should support the national communication efforts to achieve a sufficient herd immunity. As with other vaccines, we are actively advising businesses on getting the inoculation for their workforce, and providing information for employees to make educated decisions on their health and wellbeing. In the same vein, I will be getting the vaccination when it is my turn.

With a vaccine available, businesses could also play a role in leveraging emerging digital health passports such as the ICC AOKpass application to facilitate business travel or critical on-site work. In the near future and with widespread adoption, these technologies will allow the authorities to verify proof of vaccination and work towards reopening global economies while also protecting the health of citizens.

Sujith Sivaram Managing Director ESCO Pte Ltd

I asked our vice-president of HR, Priscilla Ho, for her opinion on this - ''Yes, we would encourage our team to get vaccinated against Covid-19, especially for the teammates who are at higher risk and those who travel between sites for work. The vaccinations serve as a protection not only for themselves but for those around us as well. However, in recognition of the concern of getting vaccinated, we would not enforce it on our team. We have faith that Singapore's Health Sciences Authority and the expert committee have done their due diligence, and trust in their review. When it comes down to it, we would encourage and share the right information with our teammates and the final choice should be left to them. If my turn comes, I will opt to get the jab as well.'' I concur with her views completely.

Helen Ng Chief Executive Officer Lock+Store

Mass vaccination will pave the road for current pandemic control measures and border restrictions to be loosened. I will support giving my employees time off to get vaccinated, especially since more than half are frontline staff. They would have to decide for themselves whether to get vaccinated.

Lex Lee Chief Strategy Officer TOP International Holding

Even as Singapore moves into Phase 3, and more people return to office, we are seeing a definite shift in attitudes towards the role of the office. To prepare for a post-Covid workplace, we have embarked on Future of Work (FOW) initiatives that include equipping the workplace with infrastructure to support physical, remote and hybrid working needs, as well as a series of activities that are centred around the physical and mental wellbeing of our employees.

Prioritising our team's health is paramount and since inoculation can prevent the spread of the virus, we will encourage our employees, especially those with many external engagements, to be inoculated. This will enable everyone to have a safe and productive work environment.

Ian Lee CEO, Asia Pacific The Adecco Group

Masks and safe distancing measures have reduced the spread of the virus, but we have seen that this is not enough. I would encourage everyone to be vaccinated unless there are medical reasons not to do so. I will personally be taking my vaccination in the first instance. I believe that this is a responsibility that everyone must take to protect themselves and our community, especially for those around us who are more vulnerable to the risks. As a nation, we will need to achieve a 70 per cent vaccination rate, or perhaps higher due to the new, more infectious Covid-19 variants.

Hitan Mehta Chief Executive Officer (Asia) Acuutech

As an employer and enabler to other businesses, I would encourage our people to get vaccinated. While there are still unknowns about long-term effects, especially when it comes to procreation, this will remain optional for our team. Our team does travel, and therefore resuming it would enable us to service clients and partners more effectively in the region. Once the vaccine is available I will lead by example to my team and get the jab. Do I fully trust it is another question, but trust and faith have to be put in the experts who have worked tirelessly to get us to where we are today, along with the aid of supercomputers and past research.

Justin Loh Country Director, Singapore Veritas Technologies

The Covid-19 vaccine is a piece of positive news for Singapore, paving the way for recovery on both economic and social fronts. Kudos to the government task force - Singapore could potentially be out of the woods and return to normalcy, albeit a new normal, if the mass immunisation plan pans out well. At Veritas, we value the health of our employees and customers, with strict remote working edicts and reduced customer interactions in place since early 2020. I am excited by the positive impact of mass inoculation and will encourage all employees in Singapore to step up, myself included, when a vaccine is offered. Veritas will also make the vaccine available to locally-based employees who are non-Singaporeans at no cost, to safeguard their wellbeing, as well as that of our customers and their families who they interact with, in the spirit of promoting social responsibility.

Lim Soon Hock Managing Director PLAN-B ICAG

There is a compelling reason why our government is offering the vaccines to all Singaporeans and long-term residents for free. Beyond an incentive, it is intended more to achieve the larger objective of preventing the spread, if not a resurgence, of Covid-19. If all of us would like to achieve more normalcy in how we live, work and play - in particular with more human contact, and less fear and anxiety - then we should take up the offer to be vaccinated unless there are medical reasons for not doing so. The experience of other countries, such as the United Kingdom, that have started vaccination earlier than Singapore has demonstrated that the risks are very low. As our government has also carried out rigorous due diligence, we can take comfort that it is safe for all our employees to be vaccinated. As I am in the high-risk group, I will set an example to be vaccinated for all my colleagues in the various companies that I am involved in, not just to prevent myself from contracting Covid-19, but to also play my part in this costly national effort to contain, if not to stop the contagion.

Prevention is always better than cure.

Annie Yap Chief Executive Officer AYP Group

As an employer, the safety and wellbeing of all my employees are of utmost importance to me. As such, I would indeed encourage my employees to get vaccinated against Covid-19, and will also do so myself when the time comes. This would be for the safety of not only my employees and their loved ones, but also that of the community as well. I am sure there are many activities that all of us have missed being able to do since the pandemic started. For things to go back to normal as quickly as possible, we all have to do our part, and I strongly believe getting vaccinated is one of the most important ways to do so.

David Leong Managing Director PeopleWorldwide Consulting Pte Ltd

Vaccination is not the endgame in the fight against Covid-19, but it is the best defence in insulating against and reducing the risk of infection. Social distancing and conscious efforts to keep up with hygiene maintenance in the work environment is crucial at this point. Vaccination will get us to a stage of herd immunity and protection. As an employer, I strongly advise my staff to be vaccinated, especially the older workers. I will be in the queue for vaccination as this is a responsible thing to do. We need to convince the larger population that with overwhelming numbers being vaccinated, we can overcome this and have herd immunity and safe protection shields.

Dora Hoan Group CEO and Co-Chairman Best World International Ltd

I strongly encourage our staff to receive Covid-19 vaccination. As a frequent business traveller, I am keen to get myself vaccinated. We believe vaccination is our best line of defence against any infectious disease. This is an important strategy to stop the Covid-19 pandemic, as the more people get vaccinated, the harder it is for the virus to spread. Therefore, when we get inoculated, we are not only protecting ourselves but playing our part in protecting others around us and delivering a safer society.

Henry Tan Group CEO Nexia TS Group

A new year has started and everyone is eagerly hoping for a new beginning. What this vaccination will do for the world is a new beginning, as if serious cases of Covid-19 are controlled, the world can slowly open up and travel will be progressively restored. Singapore in particular needs to open our borders as we rely on international trade and business connections using Singapore as a hub. With this opening, there will be more imported cases and local transmission. Vaccination will help the process of Singapore's opening up to the world, and that is good for the country, for the people and for jobs. We need to help especially those who are suffering and who will not be able to hold on anymore if the borders remain closed. Hence I will support my staff to have the vaccination and they will be given time off to go for their jabs. If it is possible to do it like a blood donation drive at company premises, we would like to do so to encourage vaccination. I will certainly go get immunised once my turn comes.

Zaheer Merchant Regional Director (Singapore & Europe) QI Group of Companies

Legal considerations aside (compelling employees, obtaining waivers or constructive dismissal scenarios), our strenuous travel schedule and vaccine-passports being de rigueur, means our staff will need to get vaccinated. Both from an international and domestic requirement perspective, it makes perfect sense, as it can help ensure business continuity and safety at every level. Honestly, I am hard pressed to be first in line for the jab. Efficacy issues, development speed, vaccine protocols, side effect uncertainties and ratios are all so up in the air. The only impression I am left with is fear or concern. Neither is helpful, I warrant. Unless like all things, both dissipate with empirical evidence or effluxion of time.

Andrew Chan Founder & CEO ACI HR Solutions Ltd

For a recruitment company that specialises in the travel and hospitality space, the Covid-19 pandemic has obviously affected our business. Based on our annual ACI Report findings, the broader tourism industry saw nearly three quarters of the sector either retrenched or suffering deep pay cuts. Therefore, time is not a luxury we have, and without doubt I would encourage staff and the community in general to not procrastinate in getting vaccinated. I, for one, will without hesitation be first in line when the vaccine is made available to me.

Dhruv Arora Founder and CEO Syfe

The health and wellbeing of employees is our utmost priority. We will definitely be encouraging colleagues to get vaccinated when the opportunity arises. I plan to lead by example and get inoculated as soon as the jab is made available to me. The fight against coronavirus is far from over but getting the Singapore population vaccinated will be a huge milestone in the battle to overcome Covid-19.