About 45% of COVID-19 community cases in the past week were BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants: MOH

A second COVID-19 booster is recommended for individuals aged 80 years and above, those living in aged care facilities, as well as medically vulnerable persons aged 18 and above who are at higher risk of severe COVID-19. 

“For persons who do not fall into these groups, for now, there is no recommendation for them to receive a second booster. They continue to be well-protected against severe disease after their first booster dose,” said MOH. 

MOH added that it will still continue to offer the second booster to all those aged 50 to 79 years.

“They can choose to take a second booster if they are concerned about their individual risk of severe COVID-19 as this is around the age where risk increases as chronic diseases start to set in.”

Those who live with elderly or medically vulnerable family members, or intend to travel overseas, should consider taking up the second booster, added the ministry. 

All those who are eligible for their primary series vaccination, first booster or second booster may receive their doses by walking into any of the 10 Joint Testing and Vaccination Centres (JTVCs) located islandwide.

Residents may also book an appointment at the centres, participating Public Health Preparedness Clinics (PHPCs) or polyclinics via their SMS invitation.

From Jun 27, mobile vaccination teams will also be deployed to selected heartland locations to make it more convenient for seniors to get vaccinated and boosted. 

The teams will be deployed at certain Residents’ Committee Centres at residential blocks and Community Centres. Each team will be deployed at a given site for two days before moving on to the next location, said MOH. 

“PREPARED TO RIDE IMPENDING RISE IN CASES”

Alongside the Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination, MOH said it will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and the level of protection against the disease in various segments of the population.

“We will make recommendations for the second booster in younger age groups when there is a need to do so. In the meantime, such persons are strongly encouraged to receive their primary series and first booster dose if they have not yet done so,” said MOH.

The Health Ministry added that Singapore remains “well positioned” to be a COVID-19 resilient nation.

“We have sufficient resources and are well prepared to ride the impending rise in cases. While MOH continues to monitor the situation closely, living safely with COVID-19 is a collective effort.”

Members of the public were also urged to take the necessary precautions and remain socially responsible by observing safe management measures, conducting regular self-tests, and avoiding social interactions if one has a fever or respiratory symptoms, or tests positive for COVID-19.

On Monday, Singapore reported a total of 5,309 COVID-19 cases, of which 4,845 were locally transmitted infections. 

There have been 1,413,667 COVID-19 cases in Singapore since the start of the pandemic.