According to Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, the COVID-19 vaccine will be first given to people who are in the higher risk group in Singapore. This means that people who are more likely to be exposed to the virus will be given priority to access the vaccine.
The approach comes as part of a strategy to protect people who are more vulnerable or at higher risk of been exposed to the virus. The government is currently actively monitoring the progress of vaccine development.
As reported previously, Singapore is working with several pharmaceutical companies in developing the vaccine which said to be available by late of 2021. However, the Duke-NUS Medical School are working with United States biotechnology company Arcturus Therapeutics to develop an mRNA vaccine.
Phase 1 testing of the vaccine has already started. Singapore is also in preparation to mass-produce the vaccine once it is made available.