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MOH Will Take Action Against People Who Sell Their Sinovac COVID-19 Vaccination Slots

2021-08-23 , 2:06 pm

While some are hesitant to get jabbed, others are desperate to get a shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.

All long-term residents in the country can now walk into any vaccination centre to get a shot, but some may not be able to get a dose of either mRNA vaccine currently in use, due to allergies or other reasons.

The only available alternative is China’s Sinovac, but all supplies of the vaccine have already been allocated.

This is why some people created listings on Carousell last week offering to pay good money for a vaccination slot.

Unfortunately for them, while you can sell Filet-o-Fishes on the platform, vaccination slots are a no-go.

MOH Will Take Action Against People Who Sell Their Sinovac COVID-19 Vaccination Slots

Those who sell their Sinovac COVID-19 vaccination slots will face enforcement action by the Ministry of Health (MOH).

Speaking to The Straits Times, MOH said it has not yet received any complaints regarding the online listings, but warned that it will look out for such transactions and will take enforcement action “where warranted”.

It said those with vaccination slots should not “exploit” the situation and “take advantage of those who want to be vaccinated”.

It’s unclear, however, if any of the deals listed on the site have gone through.

Offering Up to $200 a Jab

Several users had put up listings to buy Sinovac shots last week, offering amounts of between S$50 and S$80.

One user said they were hoping to get a slot for their daughter, who was unable to get the mRNA vaccines.

All listings were quickly taken down, however, meaning they were either deleted or the bidders were taken up on their offer.

Checks by this Goody Feed writer showed that there was one listing left at the time; one particularly desperate bidder was offering S$200 for an appointment slot.

However, this listing was also taken down soon after it was put up.

Use Traditional Vaccine Method

It’s impossible to get a slot at the moment for the Sinovac shot, but residents hoping to get jabbed will be happy to learn that fresh supplies of Sinovac’s vaccine are expected to arrive in the next three to five weeks.

Unlike the two mRNA vaccines, Sinovac’s vaccine uses a more traditional inactivated vaccine, which works by using killed viral particles to expose the body’s immune system to the virus without triggering a serious disease response.

This is why some of those who are allergic to the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines have opted for the Sinovac shot, as it may not trigger the same reaction.

Sinovac’s vaccine is not covered under the Vaccine Injury Financial Assistance Programme, however, meaning those who experience serious side effects related to the vaccine won’t receive financial assistance.

Learn the importance of COVID-19 vaccines here:

MOH Will Take Action Against People Who Sell Their Sinovac COVID-19 Vaccination Slots

MOH Will Take Action Against People Who Sell Their Sinovac COVID-19 Vaccination Slots

Offering Up to $200 a Jab

Use Traditional Vaccine Method

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