Arrangements in Place to Secure COVID-19 Boosters for Omicron if Approved, Says MOH

Arrangements are in place to secure COVID-19 booster vaccines for the Omicron variant should they become available and be recommended for use, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Sunday, July 10.

“MOH, the Health Sciences Authority, and the Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination are reviewing the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 booster vaccines that will also target the Omicron variant,” a spokesman from the ministry said in response to queries from The Straits Times.

“Arrangements are in place to secure supplies should these be recommended for use.”

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said in Parliament earlier this month that about half of COVID-19 infections in Singapore were from the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants, and that the percentage of infections have been “doubling every week.” He added that while that’s the case, the current COVID-19 wave will not be as severe as the wave earlier this year.

Even so, the MOH and expert committee strongly recommend those due to receive their boosters to do so without delay. They should not wait for this vaccine because the current formulation of the vaccines works well in preventing people from getting extremely sick.