[Updated as of 27 Dec]
The Multi-Ministry Taskforce will include the Sinovac-CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine in the National Vaccination Programme, following the interim authorisation of the vaccine by the Health Sciences Authority.
As the Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine is of relatively lower vaccine efficacy compared to the mRNA vaccines, the Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination has recommended the following:
- Those who can take the mRNA vaccines: To complete 2 doses
- Those who received one or two doses of Sinovac-CoronaVac: Strongly encouraged to take complete a three-dose primary regime with mRNA vaccines as it offers more protection
- Those medically ineligible to take any mRNA vaccine: To take three doses of Sinovac-CoronaVac1
- Those who had allergies or severe adverse reaction to first dose of mRNA vaccine: To take two more doses of Sinovac-CoronaVac
- Those who had allergic reaction after second dose of mRNA vaccines: To take one dose of Sinovac-CoronaVac as a booster when eligible
Note: Sinovac-CoronaVac will be not offered as a booster for persons who had already completed two doses of mRNA vaccine without developing allergies or severe adverse reactions.
The three-dose primary series regime of Sinovac-CoronaVac under the NVP will be offered to those who have not completed their full course of vaccination, including persons who had only received one or two doses of Sinovac-CoronaVac previously. This will help improve protection for persons vaccinated with Sinovac-CoronaVac.
From 20 October 2021, persons aged 18 and above who are medically ineligible to complete a two-dose regime of mRNA vaccines due to allergies or severe adverse reactions after their first dose, will be invited to receive their Sinovac-CoronaVac doses to complete their three-dose primary series regime. An SMS with a personalised booking link will be sent to book a new appointment on www.vaccine.gov.sg.
[New] Individuals who have taken the Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine for their first 2 doses can now walk into the following vaccination centres without an appointment for their third dose. They are strongly recommended to receive the mRNA vaccine for their third dose unless medically ineligible to do so.
Individuals may receive their third dose at the following venues:
a. Vaccination centres offering the Moderna vaccine;
b. Vaccination centres offering the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty vaccine, if they are aged 60 years and older; and
c. Raffles City Convention Centre (RCCC), which offers the Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine, and takes walk-ins until 31 Dec 2021
Sinovac-CoronaVac for those aged 12 to 17 years old
Sinovac-CoronaVac has not been approved for general use for individuals aged 12 to 17 years. However, for those in this age band who are medically ineligible to complete a full two-dose regime of the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty mRNA vaccines, will be offered a three-dose primary series using Sinovac-CoronaVac under a dedicated public health programme. They will be closely monitored by trained medical personnel under this public health programme. The Ministry of Health will contact eligible persons in this age group on how they can receive the Sinovac-CoronaVac.
Updates to vaccination status
Those who have taken two doses of Sinovac-Coronavac will be regarded as fully vaccinated for four months after the second dose, or 31 December 2021, whichever is later. This will also apply to those who had received two doses of the Sinopharm vaccine.
For travellers who may have taken only two doses of Sinovac-CoronaVac in their home country, they will be regarded as vaccinated but only for a limited period of 30 days.
Concessions for those medically ineligible for vaccines
Those who are medically ineligible for all mRNA and Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccines under the National Vaccination Programme will be exempted from vaccination-differentiated safe management measures, if they are certified as such. More details will be announced at a later date.
For more information, visit here.
1 Those who had taken one dose of Sinovac-CoronaVac to-date should complete their primary series vaccination with two more doses of mRNA vaccines; while those who had taken two doses of Sinovac-CoronaVac to-date should take one more dose of mRNA vaccine.
2 Those who had taken one dose of Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty, will take two more doses of Sinovac-CoronaVac, while those who had not taken any dose of Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty will take three doses of Sinovac-CoronaVac.
