SINGAPORE – The Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine might be included within the nationwide vaccination programme to cater to these unable or unwilling to be vaccinated with mRNA vaccines, the multi-ministry activity pressure managing the pandemic mentioned on Saturday (Oct 23).
This follows the Well being Sciences Authority’s (HSA) interim authorisation of the vaccine underneath the Pandemic Particular Entry Route (PSAR).
Three doses of the Sinovac vaccine might be required for an individual to be thought-about totally vaccinated, mentioned the Ministry of Well being (MOH).
The second dose must be taken 28 days after the primary dose, whereas the third dose must be taken 90 days after the second dose, the HSA mentioned.
All people who’ve taken two doses of the Sinovac vaccine might be considered totally vaccinated for 4 months after the second dose, or Dec 31 this yr, whichever is later.
People must get their third doses by then so as to keep their vaccination standing.
Beneath the nationwide vaccination programme, the Sinovac vaccine might be administered free of charge, and can come underneath the Vaccine Harm Monetary Help programme.
Nevertheless, people who took the Sinovac vaccine earlier than PSAR approval was given and paid for it themselves is not going to be reimbursed, mentioned Well being Minister Ong Ye Kung, who co-chairs the taskforce.
MOH will assign the vaccination centre at Raffles Metropolis Conference Centre to manage the Sinovac vaccine, Mr Ong added.
That is on high of 11 Public Well being Preparedness Clinics in addition to choose non-public clinics.
MOH offered the next pointers on Saturday:
– Individuals who have obtained just one or two doses of the Sinovac vaccine so far are strongly inspired to finish a three-dose main sequence regime with the mRNA vaccines because it affords extra optimum safety.
– People who find themselves unable to take any dose of the mRNA vaccines as a result of medical causes ought to obtain three doses of Sinovac in whole to finish their main sequence regime.
– Those that began vaccination with mRNA vaccines however developed allergy symptoms or extreme antagonistic reactions after the primary dose ought to full a three-dose main sequence regime with two extra doses of Sinovac.
– If the allergic response occurs after the second dose of mRNA vaccine, then the particular person ought to take yet another dose of Sinovac as their booster vaccination when they’re eligible for a booster.
– Sinovac might be not provided as a booster for individuals who have already accomplished two doses of mRNA vaccine and didn’t develop allergy symptoms or extreme antagonistic reactions. For this group, a 3rd dose of mRNA vaccine might be provided to them because the booster dose as a substitute underneath the Nationwide Vaccination Programme.
Mr Ong mentioned that of the eligible inhabitants, 94 per cent have both taken or have booked their vaccinations.
However among the many 6 per cent of the eligible inhabitants who stay unvaccinated, 70,000 are seniors above 70 years or 60 years outdated.
“They’re at a excessive danger of falling very sick if contaminated with Covid-19,” Mr Ong mentioned.
“A few of these unvaccinated people are unable to take the mRNA vaccines as a result of medical causes. Others could merely choose a non-mRNA vaccine.
“So we’ll make the Sinovac vaccine extra accessible to them, to encourage them to get vaccinated.”
The ministry additionally mentioned that the Sinovac vaccine has not been authorized for normal use for people aged 12 to 17 years.
This isn’t within the software from Sinovac and can be in step with the World Well being Organisation’s authorized use underneath the Emergency Use Itemizing.
Nevertheless, for these on this age band who’re medically ineligible to finish a full two-dose regime of the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty mRNA vaccines, MOH will provide a three-dose main sequence utilizing Sinovac underneath a devoted public well being programme.
They are going to be carefully monitored by educated medical personnel underneath this public well being programme, provided that the usage of Sinovac in individuals underneath the age of 18 years was not included in HSA’s PSAR interim authorisation, mentioned MOH.
“We’ll get in contact with eligible individuals on this age group on how they will obtain the Sinovac vaccine safely.”
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