Singapore’s government is continuing the plan on vaccination against the novel pathogen, Andalou Agency has learned. The Asian country has received the first batch of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to arrive in the region, medical officials announced Tuesday.
In Tuesday statement, Singapore Airlines (SIA) confirmed delivery of the first shipment of the anti-virus drug to the country, making it the first in Asia to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech jab.
A vaccine to be administered without charge to all Singaporeans, long-term residents as the country prepares to ease strict rules. SIA said that the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to the country became an important milestone in the fight against the disease.
“It also served to demonstrate SIA’s and the Singapore air hub’s readiness for the very important job of transporting and distributing COVID-19 vaccines internationally,” said Chin Yau Seng, Senior Vice President Cargo SIA.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong approved the anti-virus drug which announced would be administered free of charge and on a voluntary basis to all. According to the recent plans, the government is also set to further ease virus-related restrictions from December 28.
As an illustration, Singapore’s Health Ministry announced that social gatherings of up to eight people will be allowed, up from the current five.
The Asian state-city reported 10 new novel coronavirus cases, including nine imported ones, over the past 24 hours. That brings the nation’s caseload to 58,403. The death toll in Singapore stands at 29, according to the Health Ministry.