7 new COVID-19 vaccination centres to be set up, some offering Moderna shots

SINGAPORE: Singapore will arrange seven extra COVID-19 vaccination centres throughout the nation, 4 of which is able to supply the Moderna vaccine. Authorities can even contemplate permitting residents with “very exceptional circumstances” to obtain their doses earlier.

The seven vaccination centres, situated at Bukit Batok, Bukit Merah, Jurong West, Punggol, Sengkang, Tampines and Woodlands, will progressively begin operations from Wednesday (Mar 17), stated the Ministry of Well being (MOH) on Tuesday.

By mid-April there will probably be a complete of 40 vaccination centres islandwide.

That is along with the 20 polyclinics and 22 Public Well being Preparedness Clinics (PHPCs) which are additionally providing COVID-19 vaccines.

“All vaccination centres are wheelchair-friendly to provide easy access to seniors who have mobility concerns,” stated MOH.

The 4 vaccination centres administering Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine are Hong Kah North, Marsiling, Punggol 21 and Radis Mas neighborhood golf equipment.

READ: MOH updates COVID-19 vaccination pointers; these with a number of allergy symptoms with out anaphylaxis can now obtain jabs

The opposite vaccination centres, polyclinics and chosen PHPCs will proceed to supply the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. As extra provides of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine arrive, extra vaccination centres will supply the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, stated MOH.

Every centre will solely inventory and administer one kind of COVID-19 vaccine, added the Well being Ministry, and folks should choose the identical centre for each their first and second doses.

“As the vaccination capacity of each vaccination centre is not the same, the waiting times for first dose vaccination will differ between the vaccination centres,” stated MOH.

Persons are suggested to examine the supply of appointment slots in different centres if they're unable to safe their desired appointment dates on the centre of their selecting.

The ministry additionally inspired individuals to guide their appointments at vaccination centres, which have bigger capacities than polyclinics.

READ: Singapore receives its first cargo of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine

EARLY VACCINATION APPEALS

MOH stated it might supply vaccines to extra segments of the inhabitants from April, so that every one Singaporeans and long-term residents may be vaccinated by finish of the yr.

“In the meantime, we have received appeals from members of the public who wish to receive their vaccination early for a variety of personal reasons,” stated MOH.

“While our focus has been to vaccinate identified priority groups on public health considerations, as more vaccine supplies arrive, we will consider allowing Singapore citizens and permanent residents with very exceptional circumstances to receive their vaccination earlier.”

These embody individuals who have an “urgent need” to journey abroad to take up or full a proper training or vocational programme, or to be primarily based abroad for work, and the place distant studying or working is just not an choice.

Those that want to journey abroad to go to or look after an instantaneous member of the family who's critically unwell, or to hunt “medically necessary treatment that cannot be reasonably received in Singapore”, can even be thought-about for early vaccination.

Individuals who plan to attraction for early vaccination ought to cater for the time wanted to finish the total course. For the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, the 2 doses required are three to 4 weeks aside. The vaccines will probably be “fully effective” an extra two weeks after the second dose, stated MOH.

They need to purpose to finish their attraction software about eight weeks upfront, and people profitable will probably be notified by way of electronic mail.

READ: How COVID-19 vaccines are transported to Singapore and saved right here

“We will do our best to accommodate all appeals that meet the stated criteria. But as vaccine supplies are limited, priority will be given to those travelling to higher risk countries or regions,” stated the Well being Ministry.

The ministry can be working with hospitals and clinics to supply earlier vaccination for his or her sufferers with advanced continual medical circumstances who may be extra weak to extreme issues in the event that they contract COVID-19.

Such sufferers’ docs will focus on with them if they're eligible for vaccination.

VACCINE INJURY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME

From Wednesday, the Vaccine Damage Monetary Help Programme for COVID-19 vaccination (VIFAP) will probably be open for functions.

This programme will present monetary assist to Singaporeans, everlasting residents and long-term move holders who're vaccinated beneath the nationwide vaccination programme and who “in the rare event” undergo from severe unintended effects which are assessed to be associated to the vaccination.

“This is to give greater peace of mind for those deciding on taking up the vaccination,” stated MOH.

“The quantum of the one-time goodwill pay-out under the VIFAP is based on the severity of the serious side effects attributed to the COVID-19 vaccines.”

Individuals might qualify for one of many following tiers of pay-out:

- One-time pay-out of S$2,000 for people who required inpatient hospitalisation and medical intervention, and subsequently recovers

- One-time pay-out of S$10,000 for people who required admission to Excessive Dependency or Intensive Care, and subsequently recovers

- One-time pay-out of S$225,000 for people who die or undergo everlasting extreme incapacity because of COVID-19 vaccination

The second and third tiers have been introduced earlier this yr. The inclusion of the primary tier, along with the opposite two tiers, is supposed to “strengthen support” offered to individuals who undergo from severe unintended effects as a result of vaccination.

“The VIFAP is not meant to reimburse medical costs. It provides an additional layer of financial support, on top of the existing government healthcare financing schemes for medical costs incurred, which include government subsidies, MediShield Life, MediSave and MediFund,” stated MOH.

To use, individuals might want to submit an software accompanied by medical info from their treating physician on the intense facet impact.

The applying will probably be reviewed by an impartial scientific panel for the “relatedness and severity of the side effect(s)” to the COVID-19 vaccine obtained, added the Well being Ministry.

As of Monday, greater than 792,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Singapore, with greater than 549,000 individuals receiving at the least the primary dose. Of these, 243,000 have obtained their second dose and accomplished the total vaccination routine.

Since vaccination for seniors began on Feb 22, greater than 175,000 have obtained their first dose, and about 230,000 seniors have made appointments to obtain their first jab within the subsequent few weeks.

“Vaccination is critical to keep us and our loved ones safe from COVID-19, and it is a key enabler for us to return to normalcy,” stated MOH.

“While COVID-19 vaccination is voluntary, we strongly encourage Singaporeans and long-term residents who are medically eligible to come forward for vaccination when their turn comes.”