FAQs - Booster Doses

[Updated 11 May] Who should receive a booster?

Individuals aged 12 years and older are recommended to receive a booster dose from about five months after the last dose of their primary vaccination series*, or as soon as possible thereafter, in order to maintain good protection against COVID-19.

Persons who had recovered from COVID-19 and completed the recommended COVID-19 primary vaccination are similarly recommended to receive a booster dose. This should also be from about five months after the last dose of their primary vaccination series and should be received at least 28 days after the infection.

Individuals aged 12-17 years are recommended to receive a booster dose of a Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty vaccine, while individuals aged 18 years and older are recommended to receive a booster dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty vaccine or the Moderna/Spikevax vaccine- under the National Vaccination Programme.

For those who received the Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine as their third vaccine dose as part of a three-dose primary vaccination series incorporating the Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccines, they should receive a booster dose of a mRNA vaccine under the National Vaccination Programme earlier - from three months after the third dose of the vaccine, due to lower antibody levels generated by the third vaccine dose.

This booster dose should not be delayed beyond nine months after the primary vaccine course.

*The primary vaccine course may comprise of either:

·       Two doses of either the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty, Moderna/Spikevax or the Novavax/Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine;
·       Two or more doses of the Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccines as part of a three-dose primary vaccination series; or
·       A complete primary vaccination regimen of other WHO EUL vaccines.

Note: Recommendations for Sinovac-CoronaVac will apply to Sinopharm as well.

Local and international data show reduced vaccine protection against COVID-19 infection from around six months after completion of the last vaccine dose in the primary vaccination series or earlier. The level of protection drops even further over time. There is also some reduction in protection against severe disease, particularly in older persons. In addition, international studies have shown that the protection against Omicron variant infection by a primary vaccination series is weaker compared to previous variants, and that boosters increase the protection against infection and severe illnesses caused by Omicron. As such, booster vaccination is crucial to ensure continued protection against COVID-19.

You should proceed to complete your vaccination. It is safe for you to receive two doses of mRNA vaccines for the primary vaccination series, and you are also recommended to receive one dose of the mRNA vaccine as a booster. If you are not medically eligible for the mRNA vaccines, you should complete your vaccination using alternative vaccines (e.g. Novavax/Nuvaxovid, Sinovac).

If you are due for your vaccination based on the schedules recommended in the national vaccination programme (e.g. to receive a booster dose about 5 months after two doses of mRNA vaccines), you may receive your next vaccine dose from 28 days after the infection.

Persons who had received two or more doses of the Sinovac-CoronaVac* COVID-19 vaccines as part of a three-dose primary vaccination series are recommended to receive a booster dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech / Comirnaty or Moderna/Spikevax mRNA vaccines, unless medically ineligible for the mRNA vaccine.

Such persons who received an mRNA vaccine as their third dose should receive the booster dose about five months thereafter. However, those who received the Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine as their third vaccine dose should do so at three months thereafter, due to lower antibody levels generated by the third vaccine dose.

Persons who were fully vaccinated with other WHO EUL vaccines are also recommended to receive a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine about five months after completion of their primary series vaccination.

*Recommendations for Sinovac-Coronavac should similarly apply to Sinopharm

Persons below the age of 12 years are currently not yet offered to receive a booster dose. MOH and EC19V will continue to monitor data on this and update the recommendations for this group of persons as necessary

Individuals aged 12 years and above are considered “fully vaccinated” for 270 days after the last dose in their primary vaccination series.

They should receive their booster dose at around five months after the last dose in their primary vaccination series (or three months for those who received the Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine as their third vaccine dose) to maintain their fully vaccinated status beyond the 270 days.

If your vaccination status is not accurately reflected, you may raise your query at https://go.gov.sg/vds-query-form.

Yes, the EC19V has assessed that the benefits of another dose of the vaccine outweigh the risks for the recommended groups. There is now good international data that a booster dose of the vaccine is safe, enhances protection against COVID-19 infection and ensures continued excellent protection against severe disease.

Most side effects are mild or moderate, and usually get better within a few days.  As with all vaccines and medications, there is a small risk of serious adverse events. Countries which have been providing booster doses have not reported any safety concerns.

People who are eligible for their booster dose will be invited to be vaccinated, from five months after their second dose.

All individuals, who are eligible for COVID-19 vaccination may walk in for their primary vaccination series and booster doses, without prior appointment, every day of the week, before 7pm:

• Individuals aged 12 to 17 may now walk in to any VC offering the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty vaccine to receive their primary vaccination series and booster dose. These individuals will be required to bring a duly completed and signed hard or electronic copy of the parental consent form, which can be downloaded here.

• Individuals aged 18 and above may walk into any VC offering mRNA vaccines to receive their primary vaccination series and booster dose.

If you are 60 years old and above, and have completed the last dose of your primary series vaccination, you may also walk into any of the participating Public Health Preparedness Clinics (PHPCs) or Polyclinics, to receive your booster dose without an appointment. If you would like to go to a PHPC, you are advised to call the respective clinics for enquiries on the vaccination cut-off time for your preferred date, as operating hours may vary.

Alternatively, eligible individuals aged 18 and above will receive an SMS with a personalised link to book an appointment at appointment.vaccine.gov.sg. Parents/guardians of individuals aged 12-17 will also receive the SMS notification, to provide consent and book their child/ward’s booster vaccination appointment.

A booster dose is recommended for individuals aged 12 and above, from about 5 months after the last dose of their primary vaccination series. If your child/ward is 12 to 17 years old, he/she will require your consent to receive his/her booster vaccination.

Individuals aged 12 to 17 years old can walk in to any VC offering the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty vaccine to receive their primary vaccination series and booster dose, without need for prior appointment. They must bring along their Student Identification, or if not available, other forms of identification (e.g. Birth Certificate/Passport/SingPass) for verification purposes, as well as a duly completed and signed hard or electronic copy of the parental consent form, which can be downloaded here.

You do not need to accompany your child/ward if he/she is aged 13 and above. However, if he/she is 12 years old or a student in a Special Education (SPED) school you will need to accompany him/her, as per the arrangements for the primary series vaccination.

Alternatively, you will receive an SMS at the mobile number that you had registered with for your child/ward’s primary series vaccination. The SMS will ask you to provide consent and book your child/ward’s booster vaccination appointment via the personalised booking link provided.

Persons aged 60 to 79 years can also receive the second booster if they choose to do so.

If you are 80 years or older, and it has been about five months since you received your first booster, you can walk into any Vaccination Centre, participating Public Health Preparedness Clinic or Polyclinic to receive your second booster dose. Walk-ins to Vaccination Centres are available any day of the week before 7.00pm. If you prefer to book an appointment online, you may do so when you receive the SMS with a personalised booking link.

If you are 60 to 79 years old, and it has been about five months since you received your first booster, you can also walk into any Vaccination Centre, before 7pm, to receive the second booster if you choose to do so.

Other persons aged 12 years^ and above who are medically vulnerable and at increased risk of severe disease due to significant medical risk factors, will need to bring along a referral memo from their treating doctors to receive their second booster dose. These include persons with chronic diseases of the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver and other organ systems.

^ Individuals aged 12-17 are only offered the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty vaccine