Singapore approves Pfizer vaccine as region rushes for first jabs

Singapore, December 14 – Singapore has approved the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced on Monday, positioning the city-state to be one of the first in Asia to receive the U.S. shot.

Lee, in a televised address, said the first doses are due to arrive later in December, and that other vaccines would also be coming in the months ahead after approval. His government expects to have enough supplies for everyone in the nation of 5.7 million by the third quarter of 2021.

The prime minister said getting vaccinated will be voluntary and free, and that health care workers and other vulnerable individuals would be prioritized. But he said he “strongly encourages” residents including foreign nationals to get the shot when they can, adding that politicians would receive early doses to demonstrate confidence in safety.

Lee said choosing the first vaccine was “not a simple exercise,” but that the Health Sciences Authority signed off on Pfizer’s option after studying the evidence. The vaccine, reported to be 95% effective, is already being rolled out in the U.K. and U.S.

The premier, in the same speech, also declared that Singapore will be moving from Phase 2 to Phase 3 of its reopening from Dec. 28 — allowing gatherings of up to eight people, instead of only five. The country has reported a total of 58,325 cases so far, but Lee noted that the virus appears to be largely under control, with zero local transmissions on most days.