All S’pore Residents Likely to Be Offered the COVID-19 Vaccine from April 2021

Since the coronavirus emerged last year, my colleagues and I have been the bearers of bad news for the most part.

Some even proposed changing our name to Saddy Feed, as it seemed more appropriate.

But today is different.

Today, I have some news that will surely make you feel more optimistic about the future:

All S’pore Residents Likely to Be Offered the COVID-19 Vaccine from April 2021

The general public will likely be offered the Covid-19 vaccine sometime after April, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said.

As of Thursday, some 250,000 people in Singapore have received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Of those, 110,000 have received the second dose and completed the full vaccination programme.

By early April, the authorities expect to distribute the first dose of vaccines to another 1 million people.

But before that can happen, our seniors need to be immunised first.

Vaccination For Those Over 60 At End of March

Over the next three weeks, seniors above the age of 70 will be getting “personalised letters” inviting them to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

They will be able to make appointments from the first week of March.

“By mid-March when we have opened a vaccination centre in each town, all seniors will be able to receive their vaccination,” the Ministry of Health (MOH) said.

The next group to be inoculated will be seniors aged 60 to 69, who will receive their invitation letters around the middle of March.

Their vaccination will start from around the end of March.

Seniors can receive their vaccination at any of the vaccination centres, 20 polyclinics, or 22 Public Health Preparedness Clinics (PHPCs) administering the vaccine.

If residents need assistance booking their appointments, they can bring their invitation letter to any community centre, where staff members will help assist them with the process.

Addressing Safety Concerns

Recently, a 72-year-old man suffered a heart attack several hours after getting his first dose of the vaccine, sparking concerns about the vaccine’s safety.

He is currently in the intensive care unit at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

However, based on their investigations, MOH said there is no indication that his condition was in any way related to the vaccine.

MOH added that the man has a history of cancer, hypertension, and hyperlipidaemia.

Nevertheless, Mr Gan assured residents that there are safety processes in place to learn more about potential adverse effects that some vaccine recipients may have.

In other words, there’s nothing to worry about. The vaccine is safe, and we should all take it to protect our loved ones.

Featured Image: Facebook (Chan Chun Sing)