Update to Covid-19 Vaccination Recommendations and Rollout of Updated Jn.1 Vaccines

The Ministry of Health (MOH) will roll out the updated JN.1 Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty and JN.1 Moderna/Spikevax vaccines from 28 October 2024. This is based on the 2024/2025 recommendation of the Expert Committee for Immunisation (ECI). The vaccination is especially applicable to individuals at increased risk of severe COVID-19, such as seniors and those who are medically vulnerable.

2. With close to 500 Healthier SG General Practitioner (GP) clinics and 10 polyclinics offering COVID-19 vaccination in the community, the five remaining Joint Testing and Vaccination Centres (JTVCs) will cease operations from 1 December 2024.

ECI’s Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations

3. We are living with COVID-19 as an endemic disease. The severity of COVID-19 infection is low in the healthy general population, given that most of our local population has either taken the vaccine and/or been infected with COVID-19 and recovered safely.

4. Hence the ECI has recommended that individuals at increased risk of severe COVID-19 should receive both the initial (if unvaccinated) and additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, as they will benefit most from increased protection with vaccination. The persons recommended for COVID-19 vaccination in 2024/2025 are:

a. Individuals aged 60 years and above;

b. Medically vulnerable individuals aged 6 months and above; and

c. Residents of aged care facilities.

5. Healthcare workers and persons living or working with medically vulnerable individuals are encouraged to consider receiving the vaccine. Other individuals aged 6 months and above who wish to receive the COVID-19 vaccine can continue to do so.

6. Unvaccinated individuals who are receiving COVID-19 vaccination in 2024/2025 should receive:

a. Ages 6 months to 4 years: Two vaccine doses, eight weeks apart; and

b. Ages 5 years and older: One vaccine dose.

7. The number of initial doses recommended for unvaccinated individuals aged 5 years and above has been reduced from two doses (as previously recommended) to one dose, as most in this population would have some level of protection from past COVID-19 infection. One initial dose is now assessed to be sufficient to ensure an adequate level of protection in unvaccinated persons aged 5 years and above.

8. Vaccinated individuals aged 6 months and above who are receiving an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccination in 2024/2025 should receive it at an interval of around one year (and at least five months) from the last vaccine dose.

Rollout of Updated JN.1 Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty and Moderna/Spikevax Vaccines

9. The Health Sciences Authority has approved the use of the updated JN.1 Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty and JN.1 Moderna/Spikevax vaccines in Singapore.

10. From 28 October 2024, all vaccination locations offering the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty and/or Moderna/Spikevax vaccines will begin administering the updated JN.1 vaccines.

11. The updated COVID-19 vaccines provide a stronger immune response against current and emerging strains compared to previous versions of the vaccines, and therefore confer better protection against COVID-19. The safety profiles of the updated vaccines are comparable to that of previous versions.

Closure of JTVCs from 1 December 2024

12. The JTVCs have served us well in offering mass testing and vaccination services during the pandemic. To bring COVID-19 vaccination closer to the community, close to 500 Healthier SG GP clinics and 10 polyclinics located island-wide are now providing COVID-19 vaccination services. In addition, more Healthier SG GP clinics will be onboarded to offer the COVID-19 vaccines.

13. With this, the five remaining JTVCs at Bukit Merah, Jurong East, Kaki Bukit, Sengkang and Woodlands will cease operations from 1 December 2024. Individuals who wish to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations at these locations may walk in by 30 November 2024, or visit https://vaccine.gov.sg/covid to book an appointment.

14. Mobile vaccination teams offering the COVID-19 vaccines will continue to be deployed across the island. Members of the public can visit https://gowhere.gov.sg/vaccine for the latest schedule.

15. COVID-19 vaccination continues to be free for all eligible individuals under the National Vaccination Programme. Members of the public can visit https://gowhere.gov.sg/vaccine for the nearest vaccination sites and the vaccine types offered. Individuals may book an appointment at a Healthier SG GP clinic through https://vaccine.gov.sg/covid, or at a polyclinic through the HealthHub booking system.

16. COVID-19 waves will continue to occur from time to time and can cause severe disease among those who are older or medically vulnerable. To increase their protection against severe disease, we encourage everyone to remain updated with their vaccination based on the prevailing recommendations, much like vaccination against influenza.