On 17 Feb, Singapore received its first batch of the Moderna vaccine after its approval earlier this month. The vaccines were carried on a Singapore Airlines (SIA) scheduled freighter service and arrived at Changi Airport at about 1.40pm. This vaccine is the second COVID-19 vaccine to be approved in Singapore.
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Increased supply of COVID-19 vaccines in Singapore
According to the Ministry of Health, the first projected date for Moderna to arrive in the country was 3 Mar 2021. In addition, Lawrence Wong, who co-chairs the COVID-19 task force, shared that another batch of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine had also arrived earlier on Wednesday.
Efficacy of vaccine
Health Science Authority (HSA) has reviewed clinical data, stating that the Moderna vaccine demonstrated a high efficacy of 94%, with its benefits outweighing the risks. It requires two doses 28 days apart, compared to Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines which require two doses 21 days apart.
With the arrival of Moderna vaccine in Singapore, let’s hope that more vaccinations will continue rolling out in communities. Who knows, this could help the gradual return of travelling once more!