Foreign Property News | Posted by Zarni Kyaw
The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has approved the COVID-19 vaccine developed by United States pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and German firm BioNTech, with the first shipment due to arrive in Singapore by the end of December, announced Prime Minister Lee HsienLoong on Monday (Dec 14).
This makes Singapore one of the first countries to obtain this vaccine, he said.
The HSA has studied the scientific evidence and clinical trial data for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, said Mr Lee in a televised address on Singapore’s COVID-19 situation.
Other vaccines are also expected to arrive in Singapore in the coming months, and the country “will have enough vaccines for everyone” by the third quarter of next year if all goes according to plan, he added.
"I am very happy to tell you that after studying the scientific evidence and clinical trial data, the Health Sciences Authority has approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for pandemic use."
The country has set aside more than S$1 billion ($750 million) for vaccines, Lee said during the national address. “We placed multiple bets, to sign advance purchase agreements and make early downpayments for the most promising candidates,”
including with Moderna Inc. and Sinovac Biotech Ltd, he said. Lee said first priority will be given to those who are at greatest risk: healthcare workers and front-line personnel, as well as the elderly and vulnerable.
The government has also accepted the recommendation by a committee of doctors and experts to vaccinate the entire adult population, though for this to be made voluntary, and will make vaccinations free for all Singaporeans and long-term residents.
About a third of the roughly 300,000 migrant workers living in dormitories in Singapore, who account for the vast majority of infections in the country, have not been exposed to the virus and may get vaccinated later too, officials said at a briefing, although they did not elaborate on the timeline for this.
Ref: (CNA, straitstimes, Bloomberg)
