Priority for Individuals with Contraindications to Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Vaccines to Receive Sinovac Vaccine and Be Eligible for Vaccine Injury Financial Assistance Programme

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Health (a) whether individuals who have contraindications for the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines but not the Sinovac vaccine can be given priority to receive the Sinovac vaccine over those who choose it out of personal preference; and (b) whether the Sinovac vaccine can be made part of the national vaccination programme for this group of individuals so that they can receive their vaccinations at vaccination centres and polyclinics and will be eligible for the Vaccine Injury Financial Assistance Programme should they develop any adverse reactions.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) is still awaiting additional data to complete its evaluation of the Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine for its safety and efficacy standards. The vaccine is therefore not yet authorised for use by HSA under the Pandemic Special Access Route (PSAR), and is not recommended as part of the national vaccination programme by the Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination. Hence, individuals should be aware that they will not be eligible for the Vaccine Injury Financial Assistance Programme (VIFAP) should any serious side effects occur.

Only a small group of persons would be contraindicated for the mRNA vaccines. These include (a) persons who had allergic reactions to the first dose of mRNA-based vaccine, and (b) persons who are allergic to other vaccines and are assessed by an allergist to be unsuitable for mRNA-based vaccines.

For these persons, MOH has ringfenced sufficient Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine stocks for their priority use.