S’pore is Going to Donate COVID-19 Vaccines to Other Countries

The recent KTV clusters may have put a real damper on one’s spirits, but it seems that the Singaporean government has not let it get in the way of things.

According to The Straits Times, our nation will be donating COVID-19 vaccines to other countries…

After achieving a respectable 43 per cent full vaccination of Singapore’s population.

S’pore is Going to Donate COVID-19 Vaccines to Other Countries

According to the news report, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong stated in a virtual gathering on Friday (16 July) that Singapore will be donating vaccines under the Covax initiative to other countries.

For the record, Covax is a worldwide vaccine distribution scheme that seeks to implement a fair supply for lower and middle-income countries.

The move, PM Lee said, stems from a conviction that “Asia-Pacific economies should support one another to tackle pandemics”.

As such, those with more advanced vaccination programmes should help each other out by donating excess vaccine supplies.

In his speech to fellow leaders from the 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec), he added that they must collaborate in the event of another wide-scale pandemic.

Major step-ups in various fields will also be required.

“We need a more agile global governance and financing mechanism that can swiftly plug gaps in global health security,” he said.

“Within our region, Apec economies should support one another, both for the present and future pandemics. For example, through technical assistance to strengthen national public health capabilities, the last mile.”

The leaders also noted the importance of an extensive health system.

“We must ensure our health systems cover all people and have the resilience to cope with current and future shocks. We welcome the varied and continuous efforts as well as the contribution of additional resources across Apec to combat the pandemic,” they said in a joint statement after the meeting.

Vaccination Rate

At the current moment, 45% of the population have completed their vaccination regimen

By August 2021, two-thirds are expected to be covered.

Speaking in parliament earlier this month, our Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen said that 92% of the total Mindef and Singapore Armed Forces active population have received their first doses.

What’s more, 84% have been fully vaccinated.

Earlier, Dr Ng asserted that the SAF has achieved herd immunity. The vaccination rates do not include NSmen, however.

As for the general population, 80% of Singapore’s population aged 12 to 39 have received at least one dose as of Tuesday (13 July).

In total, more than 75% of residents here have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

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