SINGAPORE: Arrangements are in place to secure COVID-19 booster vaccines for the Omicron variant if their use is recommended, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Sunday July 10.
“The Department of Health, Health Sciences Authority and (Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination) EC19V are reviewing the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 booster vaccines that will target also the Omicron variant,” the ministry said in response to questions from CNA.
“Arrangements are in place to secure supplies if their use is recommended,” he added.
Both Pfizer and Moderna have tested revamped versions of their vaccines to include the Omicron variant.
Earlier this month, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and other global health regulators said COVID-19 vaccines modified to include the variant Omicron strain could improve protection when used as reminder.
As vaccine effectiveness is affected as the virus evolves, a specific Omicron booster could “augment and extend” protection, the EMA said.
In Singapore, around 50% of COVID-19 infections came from the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung told parliament on July 5.
He added that the percentage of infections caused by the subvariants “has doubled every week” and is expected to reach 70-80% next week.
However, Ong said the current wave of COVID-19 will not be as severe as the Omicron wave earlier this year.