38,000 Seniors Yet To Receive Covid-19 Jab

Number of unvaccinated seniors down from 200k in July last year

- Timothy Goh

About 38,000 seniors remain unvaccinated at this point, down from 200,000 a few months ago, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung yesterday.

He had previously said in July last year that 200,000 seniors had yet to take the jab.

Speaking at a virtual press conference by the multi-ministry task force tackling Covid-19, which he co-chairs, Mr Ong acknowledged yesterday that international data has shown the initial doses of vaccines provide weaker protection against the Omicron variant as compared with the Delta variant.

Protection against the Omicron variant provided by the initial doses also wanes typically after five to six months.

But he added: “However, boosters will restore the vaccine protection against infection and severe illnesses from Omicron. Vaccination and boosters therefore continue to be our primary response.”

And despite the weaker protection, vaccines and boosters still help to provide substantial protection against severe disease and hospitalisation for cases infected with the Omicron variant, said Mr Ong.

For instance, he said, Britain has estimated that being fully vaccinated is 72 per cent effective in preventing hospitalisations for such cases, while having a booster shot is 88 per cent effective in doing so.