Everyone who has recovered recently from COVID-19 or presumed COVID-19 are eligible for vaccination once they have completed 14 days of isolation and recovered from acute illness - Dr Fong

People who have recovered recently from COVID-19 or presumed COVID-19 are eligible for vaccination once they have completed 14 days of isolation and recovered from acute illness.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says the Ministry of Health, with assistance from the World Health Organisation, has reviewed the current advice that recommends a waiting period of 90 days before a person previously infected with COVID-19 should receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

He says this is based on updated evidence, and advice from WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization, an established practice in other countries.

Doctor Fong says the evidence is that the vaccine is safe for people with prior COVID-19 infection, including within 90 days of recent recovery.

He says while there is evidence that previous infection confers immunity for at least 6 months; immunity from the previous infection will have limited protection from other variants of concern.

He says they are also aware that the previous advice was partly promoted when vaccine supply was limited to ensure priority is given to those without any immunity.

The Permanent Secretary says given the high level of vaccine supply, the safety data, the need for broader protection, and the highly transmissible nature of the Delta variant, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services advice is that all those who have recovered recently from COVID-19 or presumed COVID-19 are eligible for vaccination once they have completed 14 days of isolation and recovered from acute illness.