【Taiwan Immigrants' Global News Network】According to The Straits Times, with effect from March 14, young individuals aged 12 to 17 will be required to receive a Covid-19 booster shot in order to maintain their fully vaccinated status, according to the Ministry of Health.
This comes as the Booster Vaccination Program, which was previously only recommended for people aged 18 and up, has been expanded to include persons of all ages.
To be considered fully vaccinated, those aged 12 to 17 must take a COVID-19 booster dose starting March 14. (Photo / Retrieved from Pixabay)
The ministry stated that beginning in early February, persons in this group will be gradually invited to receive the booster dose, beginning with those aged 16 to 17 and then moving on to those aged 12 to 15.
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At a press conference held on Friday by the multi-ministerial task force on Covid-19, which he co-chairs with Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung urged, "If you are in this age group and have received an SMS invitation to receive your booster shot, go and get your jab promptly."
Countries such as the United States, Chile, Qatar, and Israel, according to Mr Ong, have already begun giving booster shots to children aged 12 to 17.
He continued, "The Expert Committee on Covid-19 Vaccination (EC19V) has studied this data and is satisfied that the boosters are safe and efficacious for this age range."
Those aged 12 to 17 are now eligible for the booster program and must meet the same criteria as those aged 18 and up.
This means they'll only be fully vaccinated for 270 days after finishing the first vaccination series, which consists of two mRNA doses or three Sinovac/Sinopharm vaccine shots and will need to have a booster shot to stay fully immunized, he explained.
Mr Ong explained that this will go into effect on March 14, allowing people aged 12 to 17 additional time to get their boosters.
Associate Professor Kenneth Mak, Singapore's director of medical services, who was also present at the news briefing, said that vaccine protection in teenagers aged 12 to 17 diminishes over time, even though protection against some diseases remains constant.
