Adults can use Medisave to pay for recommended vaccinations from Nov 1

A file photo of senior staff nurse Asannachiyaar Chinnathamby, from the travel clinic at Singapore General Hospital, giving a vaccine injection to a patient in the clinic. PHOTO: ST FILE

SINGAPORE - Adults will be able to use Medisave to pay for recommended vaccinations from Nov 1 with the National Adult Immunisation Schedule (NAIS).

In a statement, the Ministry of Health said it has established NAIS to provide guidance on vaccinations that people 18 years old and above should adopt to protect themselves against vaccine-preventable diseases.

The ministry said: "Currently, the National Childhood Immunisation Programme (NCIP) aims to achieve herd immunity among children in the population and reduce the risk of disease outbreaks.

"With the NAIS, adults who have not been previously vaccinated or who are at risk will be able to make more informed choices on vaccination for personal protection. Together, the NAIS and NCIP provide comprehensive vaccination recommendations for Singaporeans and residents for all ages."

The NAIS will provide the public and healthcare professionals with information on the necessary vaccinations and frequency of vaccination, targeting groups who should be vaccinated.

It was developed based on the recommendations of the national Expert Committee on Immunisation and comprises seven types of vaccines that protect against 11 diseases.

They include influenza, hepatitis B and the human papillomavirus.

Speaking at the Singapore Prevention and Cardiac Rehabilitation Symposium on Saturday, Senior Minister of State for Health and Transport, Dr Lam Pin Min said vaccination provides a person with protection against infectious diseases and is one of the strategies to reduce the risk of disease outbreaks in the community.

Dr Lam added: "While the coverage for vaccinations under the NCIP has been high for most of the vaccines, there is low awareness of the benefits of adult vaccination for personal protection and protection of at-risk family members.

"With the introduction of NAIS, we hope to encourage Singaporeans to take up the recommendations made in the NAIS to protect themselves and their loved ones against the relevant infectious diseases."

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