Singapore, Asia's First to Start COVID-19 Vaccination... "Nationwide Vaccination Completed by 3Q Next Year"

Vaccination Starts Two Weeks After Approval on the 14th
Prime Minister Li Xianlong: "I Will Also Get Vaccinated Soon"

On the 30th (local time), Sarah Lim (46), senior nurse at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases in Singapore, who was selected as Singapore's first recipient of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, is receiving the vaccination. With the start of vaccinations on this day, Singapore became the first country in Asia to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. The Singapore government announced plans to vaccinate the entire population by the third quarter of next year. Singapore=AFP·Yonhap News Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Taemin] Singapore has started COVID-19 vaccination, becoming the first Asian country to join the ranks of vaccine-administering nations. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is also reportedly planning to get vaccinated to alleviate public concerns about vaccine safety. The Singapore government announced plans to complete nationwide vaccination by the third quarter of next year.

According to local Singaporean media such as The Straits Times and major international news outlets on the 30th, Singapore health authorities announced that they would begin COVID-19 vaccinations focusing on priority groups such as healthcare workers. Sarah Lim (46), a senior nurse at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases, who was selected as Singapore’s first vaccine recipient, received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine along with about 30 center staff members. In an interview immediately after vaccination, Nurse Sarah said, "I am very grateful to be the first person in Singapore to receive the vaccine," and added, "I want to encourage others to get vaccinated as well." The priority recipients vaccinated on this day are scheduled to receive their second dose on the 20th of next month.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also tweeted on the same day, "To demonstrate the safety of the vaccine to the public, government officials will soon be vaccinated together," and stated, "Although vaccination has started, we must not lower our guard as it will take more time for the COVID-19 storm to pass." The Singapore government plans to vaccinate all 5.7 million citizens by the third quarter of next year.

Earlier, Singapore became the first in Asia to approve Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on the 14th. Following the approval, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong stated in a national address that "free vaccinations will be provided to Singapore citizens, and priority groups including healthcare workers, frontline personnel, the elderly, and vulnerable populations will be gradually expanded." The Singapore government has reportedly secured sufficient vaccine supplies for nationwide vaccination through advance purchase agreements for Pfizer, Moderna, and China’s Sinopharm vaccines.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.