83,908 individuals have so far received booster doses

Permanent Secretary for Health Dr James Fong says 83,908 individuals have so far received booster doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

Dr Fong says for the month of February, a further 175,558 have become eligible for booster doses and they are targeting to cover all these eligible individuals in the days ahead.

He further says they have noted how difficult it is to increase their vaccination coverage for the last 10% of the adult population despite the increased risk of severe outcomes in this group.

Dr Fong adds while they will continue to do their part to promote and deploy vaccines, they need community support to sustain the impact of their efforts especially to the vulnerable within this 10%.

He reiterates that it is a grave concern that they continue to receive requests for vaccine exemption from persons with medical comorbidities, especially NCDs; their medical condition is an indication for vaccination, and granting the exemption is not an option for any qualified medical person.

Dr Fong also highlighted that while they have reported that fully vaccinated people have died during this third wave, deaths in unvaccinated people (in the vaccine eligible population) are occurring at over 17 times the rate of the vaccinated.