Updated Covid-19 vaccines will be available at 500 clinics and 10 polyclinics

Two updated Covid-19 vaccines will be rolled out from Oct 28 at almost 500 clinics and 10 polyclinics, with the five remaining Joint Testing and Vaccination Centres (JTVCs) to close from Dec 1.

- Ian Cheng

The updated vaccines "provide a stronger immune response against current and emerging strains compared with previous versions of the vaccines, and therefore confer better protection against Covid-19", said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in an Oct 25 statement. It added that the safety profiles of the jabs are comparable with that of previous versions.

The roll-out of the vaccines was based on the recommendation of the Expert Committee for Immunisation (ECI), which advises on nationally recommended immunisations for children and adults.

"The vaccination is especially applicable to individuals at increased risk of severe Covid-19," said the ministry.

Those at higher risk of getting severe Covid-19 disease are:

Aged 60 years or above;