Humans, as you know, are not patient.
So, if we put off our dentist appointment for six months even though one tooth has turned a strange shade of green, we’d still be frustrated if we had to wait 20 minutes in the clinic for our turn.
Similarly, with COVID-19 roaming around town, many of us want to get vaccinated as soon as possible, but have had to wait a little longer so more of our fellow residents can get a jab too.
Fortunately, we won’t have to wait much longer.
Interval Between COVID-19 Vaccination Doses Has Been Shortened to 4 Weeks Instead of 6–8 Weeks
Just received your first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and are waiting for the next one? Well, good news: you can now bring it forward.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) announced yesterday (29 Jun) that it has shortened the minimum interval between the first and second doses of the vaccine to four weeks for both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines.from six to eight weeks.
Previously, the second dose could only be administered six to eight weeks after the first.
“This will ensure that more of our population can now be fully vaccinated,” MOH said.
“All eligible individuals who make their vaccination appointments from 29 June onwards will be able to schedule their first and second dose appointments 4 weeks apart.”
Those who have already received their first doses and with second dose appointments currently scheduled six to eight weeks later can also rebook and bring forward their second dose appointments to four weeks from their first dose.
You can do this by clicking the same personalised booking link in the earlier SMS sent to you by MOH.
PRs & Long-Term Pass holders Can Start Booking Vaccine Appointments
The health ministry also had some good news for permanent residents and long-term pass holders here.
Those from the 12–39 age group will now be able to book vaccine appointments from today (30 Jun), instead of 2 July as previously announced.
Almost 80% of Singaporeans aged 12 to 39 have already received their first dose or booked an appointment, so new registrations have tapered off.
Those who want to register their interest for the vaccine can do so here.
Vaccination Progress
As of 28 June, the authorities have administered a total of 5.38 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines under the national vaccination programme.
About 3.28 million people in Singapore have received at least one dose of the vaccine so far, meaning around 57.5% of Singapore’s population has been partially vaccinated.
36.8% of the country has been fully vaccinated, as 2.1 million people here have already received two vaccine doses.
The take-up rate has also been encouraging, MOH said.
Around 76% of eligible seniors aged 60 and above, 78% of eligible persons aged 45 to 59, and 73% of eligible persons aged 40 to 44 have received their COVID-19 vaccination or booked their vaccination appointments.
Almost 80% of Singaporeans aged 12 to 39 years, including MOE students, have also received vaccinations or booked their appointments.
The ministry strongly encouraged citizens aged 12 to 39 years who have not yet registered and booked their appointments to do so quickly, so that they can be protected against COVID-19 as early as possible.
Feature Image: BaLL LunLa / Shutterstock.com