When PM Lee stepped up to the podium in his famous pink shirt (and suit) to address the nation today, you probably had your front door unlocked with a shopping cart in your hands, ready to dart to the nearest supermarket.

Fortunately, the words “circuit breaker” didn’t come out of the prime minister’s mouth. Instead, we received something that no one was expecting: good news. 

PM Lee said that Singapore is on track to contain the recent community outbreak which has alarmed everyone, and that the authorities will relax restrictions after 13 June, as long as the number of infections continues to fall.

He added that the country will increase its testing capacity and accelerate its vaccination programme.

If you missed PM Lee’s speech because you’re still recovering from his speech in April 2020, here are 10 facts about our updated national vaccination programme:

Our Vaccination Programme Will Be Sped up

The current progamme for our national vaccination drive will be sped up.

Thanks to the emergence of new COVID-19 variants, the authorities hope to protect as many people as possible, as soon as possible.

Consequently, vaccinations in the next two months will be accelerated, with first dose vaccinations prioritised.

Faster Deliveries Will Facilitate Accelerated Vaccination Programme

The main reason why some countries are struggling to vaccinate their residents is due to supply constraints.

Everyone needs the vaccine, so some countries will inevitably lag behind others.

Fortunately, it seems that vaccine supplies will be coming in quicker over the next two months.

As PM Lee explained: “Our 40 vaccination centres island-wide are running smoothly. The constraint is vaccine supply. This is why we have been working very hard to confirm and speed up deliveries of vaccines from our suppliers.

“With the latest supply schedule, we can further boost our vaccination programme. We can offer the vaccine to everyone, even sooner than we expected,” he said

Students Will Be the Next Group to be Vaccinated

One of the amendments to the vaccination programme that will certainly please parents is that students will be the next group of people in Singapore to be vaccinated.

PM Lee explained that more children have been contracting COVID-19 recently, in schools and tuition centres.

“The children were not seriously ill, but parents are naturally worried,” he said. “Therefore, we will take full advantage of the June holidays to vaccinate students.”

Bookings for Students Open Tomorrow (1 June)

Priority will be given to graduating cohorts for O-Levels, N-Levels, and A-Levels, as well as special needs students, PM Lee said.

The next group will be other students aged 12 years and over, including students in institutions of higher learning.

Bookings for student vaccinations will open tomorrow (1 June).

Adults Under 39 Will Start Getting Vaccinated in Mid-June

Once students are vaccinated, the next (and last) group to get the jab will be adults under 39.

This group, which as PM Lee noted is quite large, will be the final group of residents to get vaccinated in the country.

Due to the size of the group, Singaporeans will be given a two-week priority to book their appointments first, PM Lee said.

Then, bookings will be opened up to other residents who want to get inoculated as well.

Nearly 300,000 Elderly Residents Have Not Yet Gotten Vaccinated

In his speech, PM Lee remarked that Singapore’s elderly residents have responded “excellently” to the vaccination programme.

Nearly three-quarters of Singapore’s elderly people – around 760,000 senior citizens aged 60 and above – have received at least one shot or booked a slot already, he said.

However, around 280,000 elderly residents have yet to book appointments, PM Lee noted.

“Please come forward to get jabbed as soon as possible. Most people of your age have already been vaccinated, including many of your friends and neighbours,” he said. “The President and I have been vaccinated too, and so have all my Cabinet colleagues. The vaccines are safe, and they will keep you safe.”

The authorities are desperate for more elderly residents to get vaccinated, which explains why…

There’ll be Walk-in Vaccinations For the Elderly

Residents aged 60 and above can now walk into any vaccination centre and get vaccinated on the spot.

Yes, just like getting a McSpicy at a drive-thru, you can now get your vaccination whenever it’s convenient.

As such, there will be no need to register or book an appointment in advance.

But that’s not all:

Those Above 60 With Mobility Issues Can Get the Vaccine at Home

These elderly residents can also get the vaccine at home if they have mobility difficulties or are unable to make their way to the vaccination centre for any reason.

They simply have to contact the Silver Generation Office, and a doctor and nurse will visit them at their home to administer the vaccination.

“For those with elderly parents or relatives, please encourage and persuade your old folks to get vaccinated,” PM Lee said.

Singapore Has Made “Good Progress” On its Vaccination Programme So Far

The good news is that we’ve made “good progress” on our vaccination drive so far, PM Lee said.

Healthcare and frontline workers, and the majority of those 45 and above, have already received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

As of today (31 May), nearly 40% of residents in Singapore have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

And the authorities are hoping that number rises rapidly in the next two months, because…

The Goal is to Get Two-Thirds of Residents Vaccinated By Early July

The government’s next target, PM Lee said, is to get two-thirds of residents vaccinated with at least the first dose.

“With our accelerated vaccination programme, we should be able to do this by early July, provided supplies come in as planned,” he said.

All eligible residents who want to get vaccinated should be able to get their first shot by National Day at the very least, he added.

“Whether you are old or young, please come forward to be vaccinated once it is your turn.”

More People Can be Vaccinated

Previously, certain groups of people can’t take the vaccines, but the guidelines have since been revised.

Here are the groups:

Pregnant Women
The Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination (EC19V) has reviewed the real-world clinical data as vaccination has been rolled out to pregnant women globally in countries with extensive COVID-19 transmission, and there is currently no evidence to suggest that the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines may cause harm to pregnant women or their babies. However, the Committee recognises that the amount of data collected on this population segment is still much smaller compared to data on the general population.

As such, pregnant women should discuss the risks and benefits with their doctors to make an informed decision on the vaccination. Pregnant women will be able to register and book a vaccination appointment from 4 June 2021 onwards if they are part of the population group eligible for vaccination, should they choose to be vaccinated.

Breastfeeding Women
It is also safe for women who are breastfeeding to be vaccinated. There is no need to suspend breastfeeding to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

Cancer Patients on Active Treatment
Cancer patients on active cancer treatment remain a vulnerable population that is at an increased risk of complications from COVID-19. There is currently no evidence of any safety signals or increased rates of adverse events from mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines for this group. As such, cancer patients on active treatment can be vaccinated, but should do so in a hospital setting, after assessment by their treating specialists on their suitability for receiving the vaccine. The guidelines on vaccination for cancer patients on treatment is still being finalised, including those who consult private specialists, and MOH will provide further updates when ready.

Persons with Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions (SCAR3)
It is now deemed to be safe for persons with a history of SCAR, who were previously contraindicated, to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. They may proceed with their vaccination at the vaccination centres if they are part of a population group eligible for vaccination.

As for people with a history of anaphylaxis, the EC19V is reviewing the safety data to allow more to be safely vaccinated. The Committee intends to complete this review in the next two weeks, and will set out guidelines allowing certain persons who have had previous history of anaphylaxis to be vaccinated using mRNA vaccines safely.

To know more about COVID-19 vaccines in Singapore, watch this video to the end:

Featured Image: Facebook (Lawrence Wong)