SINGAPORE – All eligible healthcare workers in the public and private sectors will be able to receive Moderna’s updated Spikevax Covid-19 vaccine from Oct 25 due to their higher risk of exposure to the coronavirus.

On Friday, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said that healthcare workers who are 18 and above and whose last Covid-19 vaccine jab was at least five months ago can walk into any of the nine joint testing and vaccination centres offering the new vaccine. 

Moderna’s updated Spikevax vaccine, also known as a bivalent vaccine, targets both the ancestral strain of Covid-19 and the Omicron variant. A clinical trial showed it generated an antibody response against the Omicron variant that was 75 per cent greater than from the original booster.

Over 28,000 people have either booked an appointment or taken the bivalent vaccine as at Thursday, MOH said.

The bivalent vaccine was rolled out in Singapore on Oct 14 for people aged 50 and older as a second booster shot. Their previous jab must be at least five months ago.

It was also offered to those who have yet to achieve minimum protection against Covid-19, which means having received at least three doses of an mRNA vaccine or Nuvaxovid, or four doses of Sinovac-CoronaVac. 

Those aged between 18 and 49 will be invited for vaccination later in 2022 after Singapore secures more supplies of the vaccine.

Healthcare workers have to produce a valid staff pass with their name for identification at the joint testing and vaccination centre. 

Those without passes may produce a memo bearing the company or organisation’s letterhead or official stamp as proof.

Healthcare institutions can make arrangements for their staff who are unable to visit the centres due to work exigencies to receive the vaccine on-site. 

MOH said in a statement: “Vaccination remains our primary defence against severe illness due to Covid-19, and we encourage all eligible persons to take the bivalent vaccine when they are able to do so.”

On Friday, there were 7,247 new Covid-19 infections, down from 8,176 cases on Thursday. The current wave of Covid-19 infections is being driven by the XBB Omicron sub-variant, and is expected to peak at an average of 15,000 daily cases by about mid-November.

Ms Chelsea Wang, 23, a nurse who works in a cardiology and respiratory general ward in a public hospital, said she is relieved that the bivalent vaccine will be offered to healthcare workers soon. She received her third dose of the Pfizer vaccine last October and hopes to get the bivalent vaccine.

She said: “Even for those who are fully vaccinated and recovered Covid-19 patients, there is still a possibility of contracting the coronavirus again. 

“Healthcare workers in the emergency department and the National Centre for Infectious Diseases should be prioritised as they interact closely with patients who might be Covid-19-positive.”

Dr Tan Teck Jack, chief executive of Northeast Medical Group which has eight clinics here, will offer the bivalent vaccine to all his staff. The clinic has been administering Covid-19 vaccines for almost two years. 

Dr Tan said: “The Covid-19 vaccine generally has few side effects but if my staff develop any sense of discomfort, we will allow them to take medical leave to recuperate. The current XBB strain does appear to be more transmissible and this vaccine roll-out is certainly timely.” 

Information on the locations and opening hours of the joint testing and vaccination centres can be found at www.gowhere.gov.sg/vaccine