While taking the Covid-19 vaccine helps to reduce the risk of transmission and serious infection, the full duration of its effectiveness is still being studied.
In a forum letter published by The Straits Times (ST), a reader shared her discovery that a person’s fully vaccinated status ‘expires’ after 1 year and 14 days.
On Friday (12 Nov), The Ministry of Health (MOH) responded and said the ‘validity period’ will be reviewed as more data are available.
MOH also shared about its current process of regularly reviewing studies on the protection conferred by Covid-19 vaccines.
On Thursday (11 Nov), ST posted MOH’s reply to a forum letter regarding the duration of one’s fully vaccinated status.
The current vaccination status of an individual expires 1 year and 14 days after their second dose. This can be found in Section 6, Subsection 4 of the Infectious Diseases Regulations 2021.
In response, MOH said studies are still ongoing. Thus, MOH had in the interim specified a duration of 365 days.
This would allow fully vaccinated individuals to be exempted from vaccination-differentiated safe management measures.
The reader also asked if individuals have to take boosters shots before they’re deemed fully vaccinated and if additional ones are needed once the efficacy wanes.
MOH explained that while 2 doses of mRNA vaccines provide a good amount of protection, its efficiency will slowly deplete. Thus, MOH recommends all eligible people to get their booster shots in order to protect themselves.
According to MOH’s Deputy Director of Medical Services (Public Health Group), Dr Derrick Heng, evidence from local and overseas studies on the protection of Covid-19 vaccines is regularly reviewed.
Additionally, MOH will continue monitoring new data, including protection by booster doses, before making recommendations to the public.
The stipulated timeframe will also be reviewed.
As the Covid-19 situation evolves, we hope ongoing studies will give medical experts a clearer picture of how best to deal with the pandemic.
In the meantime, we hope those unvaccinated will get their jabs ASAP and that those eligible for their booster shots will do so soon.
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Featured image adapted from Ong Ye Kung on Facebook.
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