People Taking Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Can Now Take 2nd Dose After 3 Weeks

I have good news and bad news.

The bad news is that Hong Kong might completely scrap plans of a travel bubble with us, since we’re planning to treat COVID-19 as an endemic disease.

Reader: That’s devastating news. The good news better be really good. 

Uh…

Reader: What’s the good news?

You can now get your second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine after three weeks instead of four.

Reader: What if I had gotten a Moderna shot?

Oh, well then it’s still four weeks.

Reader: …

People Taking Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Can Now Take 2nd Dose After 3 Weeks

Have you booked an appointment for your second dose of Pfizer’s vaccine? Well, if it’s four weeks after the first dose, you can now bring it forward by 7 days.

That’s right, the authorities have shortened the minimum interval for the vaccine from four weeks to three. 

Why? Well, as the Ministry of Health (MOH) explained:

“We have further shortened the minimum interval between the first and second doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty vaccine… so that more of our population can be fully vaccinated and protected earlier.”

Whether you’ve already received your first dose or not, you can bring forward your second dose appointment.

You can do so by using the same personalized booking link in the SMS that you had received earlier.

Unfortunately for recipients of the Moderna vaccine, the prescribed interval between doses is still four weeks.

Singapore No Longer Constrained By Vaccine Supplies

We’re incredibly fortunate in that unlike many other countries, we’re currently not constrained by supplies for vaccines.

In fact, while we’re currently vaccinating 76,000 individuals a day, we have the capacity to inoculate up to 80,000 people daily.

This is why the government is urging people to bring forward their second dose.

As Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said: “The earlier you can get your two doses, the better the protection against severe illnesses.”

Vaccination Progress

As of 6 July, 3.73 million people in Singapore have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 2.2 million have been fully vaccinated.

This means that nearly 39% of the population have been fully vaccinated, while 65% have received at least one dose.

The authorities expect 50% of the population to be fully vaccinated by 26 July, which is when a more definitive road map to transit towards living with endemic COVID-19 will be devised.

The health ministry recently advised all vaccine recipients to avoid strenuous physical activity for 7 days after their first and second dose.

These includes:

• swimming
• cycling
• running
• jogging
• lifting heavyweights
• competitive sports
• ball/racket games
• physical education

Stretching, working while standing, casual walking, and housework are still safe.

Featured Image: BaLL LunLa / Shutterstock.com