| Who can get their overseas COVID-19 vaccination records ingested into the National Immunisation Registry (NIR) and what must they do?
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A: | All individuals who have been vaccinated overseas with any vaccines approved under the WHO Emergency Use Listing (EUL), including booster shots, can get their overseas vaccination records ingested into the National Immunisation Registry (NIR). This includes Singaporean Citizens (SC), Singapore Permanent Residents (PR), Long-Term Pass Holders (LTPH) (e.g. Long-Term Visitor Pass, Work Permit, Employment Pass, S Pass, Dependent Pass, Student Pass) and Short-Term Pass Holders (STPH). For STPHs, this would only be relevant to those who intend to stay in Singapore for more than 30 days. You may call ahead to any clinic to check if they provide such services. You can also refer to phpc.gov.sg for a listing of clinics who may provide such services; please call ahead to check. The full cost of the service will be borne by the individual.
If their overseas vaccination documents are not in English, they will need to get the documents translated by a translation service provider, notary public or embassy of the country that issued the document. Both the original overseas vaccination document and translated document must be brought along when visiting a private healthcare provider in Singapore for serology testing.
After arriving in Singapore, the individual will need to visit a healthcare provider who will do the following:
1. Review the individual’s overseas vaccination documentation - either the original hard copy vaccination certificate or digital vaccination certificate (with translated document where applicable).
2. Perform a serology test. If you have a digitally verifiable vaccination certificate, you may not need to take a serology test. Instead, the healthcare provider will scan your certificate to verify its authenticity. (See subsequent questions for details).
3. Update the individual’s overseas COVID-19 vaccination record(s) to NIR as long as the individual has overseas COVID-19 vaccination documentation, and whose serology test result is positive or whose vaccination certificate has been digitally verified.
4. Individuals will see their vaccinations status on TraceTogether or HealthHub app within 24 hours after clinic has notified NIR of their overseas COVID-19 vaccination records.
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| Which digitally verifiable vaccination certificates are exempted from serology testing? |
A: | Holders of the following types of certificates may be exempted from serology testing for their vaccinations to be recognised. However, you must still visit a healthcare provider for your vaccination records to be ingested in the NIR. The healthcare provider will scan your certificate to verify its authenticity [Multiple countries] EU Digital COVID Certificate (EU DCC) [Australia] International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate [Bahrain] COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate [Bangladesh] COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare [Brunei] COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate on the BruHealth app [Cambodia] COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate from the Kingdom of Cambodia [Canada] Smart Health Card (SHC) [Mainland China] International Travel Health Certificate [Fiji] COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate [Hong Kong] COVID-19 Vaccination Record from Department of Health [India] Co-WIN International Travel Certificate [Indonesia] International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate from the PeduliLindungi app [Japan] Vaccination Certificate of COVID-19 [Republic of Korea] COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate from Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency [Malaysia] Digital Certificate for COVID-19 Vaccination from the MySejahtera app [Maldives] COVID-19 Digital Certification from the Health Protection Agency Maldives [Philippines] COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate from Department of Health [Qatar] COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate from Ministry of Public Health [Saudi Arabia] COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate from Tawakkalna app [United States] SMART Health Card (SHC) or CDC Vaccination Card
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| I had received a mixture of different vaccines overseas (e.g first dose Pfizer and second dose AstraZeneca). Am I considered fully vaccinated? |
A: | Yes. You may visit a healthcare provider for your serology test to ingest your records into the NIR. |
| What type of COVID-19 serology testing is required? |
A: | The serology test used should detect antibodies generated in response to the vaccine. As most COVID-19 vaccines are based on the spike (S) protein of the SAR-CoV-2 virus, a serology test that detects anti-S antibodies should generally be used. An anti-N (nucleocapsid) serology test may be used for persons vaccinated with inactivated virus vaccines (e.g. Sinovac, Sinopharm, and Covaxin). There is no need to distinguish between IgG and IgM, and a qualitative assay of total antibodies can be used.
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| [Updated 25 Apr] I had previously contracted COVID-19. Following my country’s guidelines, I got vaccinated with only one dose of a WHO EUL vaccine and did not take a second dose. Am I considered fully vaccinated?
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A: | You have completed your primary vaccination series and are considered fully vaccinated. From 1 June 2022*, you will need to receive the booster dose within 9 months of your last primary vaccination dose, in order to maintain your vaccinated status. You may visit a healthcare provider for your serology test to ingest your records into the NIR.
If you received a dose of a non-inactivated virus vaccine (i.e. vaccines except Sinovac, Sinopharm, and Covaxin), you will need to take an anti-N serology test to confirm your past infection in addition to an anti-S serology test to confirm your vaccination.
If you received a dose of an inactivated virus vaccine, an anti-N serology test would be unable to ascertain your past infection. You should provide documentary evidence of your past infection to the doctor (e.g. PCR test result, profesionally-administered ART result, discharge memo).
*Prevailing vaccination-differentiated safe management measures (VDS) provisions for persons who have recovered from COVID-19 apply. Please refer to https://file.go.gov.sg/vdsmminfo.pdf for more information.
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| Which are the healthcare providers that can provide this service? |
A: | Most clinics will be able to provide serology testing to confirm whether the individual has undergone the vaccinations. phpc.gov.sg provides the list of some clinics’ addresses and contact details (not exhaustive)*. Please call in advance to check that the clinic is able to support serology testing for persons vaccinated overseas and update their record on the National Immunisation Registry.
* The polyclinics do not provide serology testing for verification of overseas vaccination. |
| What will the charges be? |
A: | The charges will be determined by the private healthcare providers providing the service. Please contact the clinics directly about the charges.
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| Will the charges be subsidised? |
A: | No, the charges will not be subsidised.
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| Why is serology testing required before overseas COVID-19 vaccination records of SCs/PRs/LTPHs can be accepted into Singapore’s IT systems?
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A: | The serology test is an additional means, on top of vaccination documentation, to confirm that a person has undergone effective vaccination.
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| Why is serology testing not required for holders of digitally verifiable vaccination certificates?
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A: | Such certificates are tamper-proof and come with QR codes or other digital security features that can be used to verify their authenticity.
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| [Updated 11 May] I have taken 2 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty, Moderna/Spikevax, Novavax/Nuvaxovid or Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccines overseas. These vaccines are approved by Singapore. Why do I still need to do serology test?
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A: | Serology testing provides a means for MOH / HPB to verify your vaccination status prior to data ingestion.
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| Will the results of serology testing done overseas be accepted in Singapore?
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A: | No, serology testing needs to be done in Singapore.
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| Will serology testing be required for those who have received partial or complete COVID-19 vaccination overseas?
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A: | The serology test requirement would apply across board to those who have received either partial or complete COVID-19 vaccination overseas, including booster shots.
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| How soon can an individual know his / her serology test result?
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A: | This will depend on the clinic and the laboratory running the test. You can ask the clinic when you can expect the result.
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| What should an individual do if he/she receives a negative serology test result?
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A: | A negative serology result implies that the individual’s overseas vaccination was not effective and may not protect from COVID-19 infection. You may wish to re-take your vaccination in Singapore if you are eligible. For more details, please click here, or call the MOH COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline at 6995 9199.
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| Is it safe for an individual to re-take the COVID-19 vaccination if the serology test result is negative?
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A: | There are no known safety issues with re-taking the COVID-19 vaccination. However, some may experience more noticeable side effects such as injection site pain, muscle aches and fever.
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| Can an individual take a different brand of COVID-19 vaccine if he / she needs to re-take the vaccination?
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A: | Such individuals should complete a vaccine series with a vaccine under the National Vaccination Programme. The vaccine series need not be of the same brand as that reported to have been taken previously.
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| Does an individual need to pay for the vaccination if he /she needs to re-take the vaccination?
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A: | Under the National Vaccination Programme, COVID-19 vaccination is free for all Singaporeans and long-term residents in Singapore.
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| Can Singapore residents who were vaccinated here request for a serology test at GP clinics to confirm that their vaccination was effective? Why not?
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A: | There is no need to request for serology testing after receiving their COVID-19 vaccination locally, as serology testing is not required to verify your vaccination status.
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| Can I use my physical vaccination card/ HealthHub/ TraceTogether app as proof of my vaccination while I am travelling overseas?
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A: | All hardcopy vaccination cards/slips issued in Singapore, as well as vaccination records found on mobile applications such as TraceTogether and HealthHub may not be accepted for use overseas, where a secure and tamper-proof record of vaccination may be required by the country/region.
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