"Only Half of Citizens Willing to Get Vaccinated... Singapore's Uneasy Start"

Vaccination Started on the 30th Last Month, First in Asia
Goal to Complete by Q3 This Year
Only 55% Willing to Vaccinate According to Survey
High Negativity Due to Spread of Fake News

[Asia Economy Singapore Correspondent Seo Jumi] In Singapore, COVID-19 vaccinations began for the first time on the 30th of last month. The first recipients were 40 healthcare workers employed at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID). With this, Singapore became the first Asian country to secure and administer vaccines from the American pharmaceutical company Pfizer. This occurred just over two weeks after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced in a statement that vaccines would be provided free of charge to all residents.

According to local health authorities on the 5th, since the first batch of vaccines arrived locally on the 21st of last month, the Singapore government aims to complete vaccinations for approximately 5.85 million residents (citizens, permanent residents, and long-term pass holders) by the third quarter of next year, starting with healthcare workers, the elderly, and those with underlying conditions who are at high risk for COVID-19. Vaccinations for seniors aged 70 and above will begin in February, followed by vulnerable groups, and then the general population. Prime Minister Lee himself expressed his intention to get vaccinated in his statement and encouraged voluntary vaccination among the public.

However, the actual sentiment among Singapore residents appears somewhat different. In a recent survey conducted by Nanyang Technological University (NTU) involving 999 respondents, only about half (approximately 55%) expressed willingness to receive the vaccine. About 11% said they would not get vaccinated at all, and around 34% were undecided. Notably, one in four respondents believed the false claim that the COVID-19 vaccine alters DNA. This tendency was more pronounced among older respondents. Such misinformation seems to have spread rapidly through social media and messenger apps.

Although Singapore enacted related laws in 2019 allowing the government to order the removal of fake news on social media, various false information that destabilizes society has been increasingly rampant during the COVID-19 era.

Singapore currently reports single-digit daily confirmed cases. Nevertheless, the urgency to proceed with vaccinations stems from the economic shock experienced during the first wave last April, when daily cases nearly reached 1,426. The cumulative number of confirmed cases now stands at approximately 58,600.

Unlike other Southeast Asian countries, Singapore appears to be aiming to solidify its position as a vaccine hub by early introduction of vaccines, leveraging its experience in vaccine transportation and cold storage systems. This is expected to contribute to the gradual recovery of the aviation sector, which was severely impacted by COVID-19. However, since other Southeast Asian countries may also receive vaccines from China, India, and others, it remains to be seen whether Singapore can fulfill this role.

Meanwhile, the expert committee formed by the Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) has stated that the vaccine is suitable for people aged 16 and above, and that pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals should defer vaccination until more information is available.

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