Singapore’s vaccination drive ranks high despite supply limitations

Singapore ranks in the top 25 countries in the world for its Covid-19 vaccination roll-out despite supply constraints, having administered one dose to more than a third of its population.

CAPE TOWN, May 27 (ANA) – Singapore ranks in the top 25 countries in the world for its Covid-19 vaccination roll-out despite supply constraints, having administered one dose to more than a third of its population.

The Straits Times, a Singapore-based publication, reported on Thursday that the vaccine distribution has been efficient and that officials said they would stretch the interval between doses to allow them to administer the first jab to more people.

This tweak in strategy is to protect more people faster, which means residents who get the first jab will need to wait six to eight weeks for their second jab instead of three to four weeks.

“Every country would love to be vaccinating faster, but obviously, globally, demand outstrips supply,” said Professor Dale Fisher, a senior consultant in infectious diseases at the National University Hospital.

Some residents adopted a wait-and-see approach earlier this year while the infection rate was low, but consultants for the roll-out said Singapore would have had even fewer cases had the vaccination rate been higher.

“Some countries have intercepted supplies headed for another country, and it would not be the right thing for Singapore to do,” said Fisher.

“We have the highest vaccination rate in Asia and I don’t think we need a change in approach as we are doing very well,” he said.

Meanwhile, the BBC reported on Tuesday that Hong Kong officials announced they will soon need to dispose of around two million Pfizer shots as locals are reluctant to take the jab.

Hong Kong bought two batches of 7.5 million doses of Pfizer and China’s Sinovac, and is one of the few places in the world that has secured more than enough vaccines for the whole population. However, due to distrust of the government and online misinformation, residents have been hesitant to get vaccinated.

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher