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KEMRI and NEC Announce Trials on Biometric-based Vaccination Management System for Newborn Children in Kenya

TOKYO, Feb 7, 2023 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), NEC Corporation (NEC) and Nagasaki University, Japan, have developed a digital biometric-based vaccination management system for newborn children in Kenya. Validation of this system is taking place through KEMRI with a clinical trial that began in September 2022 at the Kinango Sub-County Hospital in Kwale and initial results are very encouraging. Hospital staff member scanning a newborn's fingerprintScreenshot from the vaccination management system (fingerprint data registration page)Screenshot from the vaccination management system (vaccination data registration page)The digital system being provided by NEC, a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies, and KEMRI, one of Africa's leading research Institutions, will effectively and seamlessly manage vaccination history and scheduling using fingerprint identification for newborn children and voice recognition for caregivers.This technology marks the first time that biometric identification is being used at a hospital to identify newborn children at the time of vaccination, including those immediately after delivery(1). As of November 2022, data from more than 300 caregivers and newborns had been registered, including the vaccination histories of more than 150 newborns. The new technology combines fingerprint identification for children and voice recognition for caregivers to confirm not only their identity, but also to reliably manage vaccination histories and schedules, thereby promoting the implementation of appropriate vaccinations for newborns and children during the first 24 months of life. Going forward, demonstration tests that network among multiple hospitals will begin, aiming for full-scale introduction throughout Kenya by the end of 2023, and more international deployment in the future. "We are excited that KEMRI together with its partners, is spearheading this landmark study that identifies newborns using a biometric and a vaccination management system that is not only in real time, but is also expected to support policy and action towards the attainment of better health outcomes and Universal Health Coverage. I am happy to announce that this tool will be validated by KEMRI researchers in partnership with Kinango Sub-County Hospital in Kwale, NEC Corporation and Nagasaki University," said Prof. Sam Kariuki, Acting Director General, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)"I expect that this vaccination management system, including newborn fingerprint biometric technology, will expand the coverage of vaccinations for children under 24 months old through accurate identification methods for mothers and children in Kenya. I also express great expectations for this research to act as a guideline for precise vaccination management featuring newborn and caregiver identification to become an important contributor to Universal Health Coverage," said Prof. Miriam Khamadi Were, Laureate, 1st Hideyo Noguchi Africa PrizeThe system utilizes voice recognition to identify caregivers, as well as fingerprint patterns to ensure that newborns are appropriately matched with the identified caregivers. Since voice recognition can be performed almost instantaneously, this system can minimize the burden placed on caregivers. Medical institutions can also introduce voice recognition with little to no change to existing procedures. Rather than using conventional fingerprint authentication methods to identify newborns, researchers developed a new method with which fingerprint pattern information is extracted from fingerprint images and a newborn child can be identified by combining fingerprint pattern data from multiple fingers.Importance of and challenges associated with vaccinationsMany children around the world continue to lose their lives at a very young age. In 2020 alone, approximately 5 million children died before reaching their fifth birthday, even without taking into account the impact of COVID-19. Furthermore, about half of these children under the age of five, or 2.4 million children, passed away within 28 days of birth, with many of these deaths considered preventable(2).Meanwhile, in some regions in the world, the use of digital technology has not advanced due to delays in the development of electricity and telecommunications infrastructure. In these regions, basic information such as who was born, when, where, and what type of medical services they have received may only be recorded by hand. In such cases, health care providers cannot easily ascertain which medical services are needed for the caregivers and children who visit their hospitals, which is one of the factors hindering efforts to ensure that children receive the vaccinations they need. Procedures for using this system in hospitals.The trial at this hospital is being conducted in accordance with the following procedures.1. Register the caregiver's voice and the newborn's fingerprint patterns on the day of birth (four fingers in total: left thumb, right thumb, left index finger, right index finger).2. Hospital staff encourage caregivers to return to the hospital according to the prescribed vaccination schedule.3. Caregivers are identified using voice recognition when they state their names at the time of their hospital visits, and their children are identified based on database information.4. Scan fingerprints from four fingers using a special scanner. Verify the child's identity by matching the data from the previous step with the pattern extracted from the scanned fingerprints.5. Administer the prescribed vaccination(s) and register the vaccination history in the system.Overview of the trial- Implementation period: September 2022 to March 2023- Hospital: Kinango Sub-County Hospital in Kwale- Participants: Approximately 1,000 caregivers and newborns who elect to participate in this trial (data has been registered for approximately 300 individuals as of the end of November 2022)- Description of trial: Using the vaccination management system, the hospital records information on the physical characteristics of newborns at the time of birth as well as the history of and schedule for administration of eight different vaccines and one vitamin supplement up to 24 months after birth to verify the effectiveness of and issues related to the system. The voice and fingerprint pattern data acquired will be used only for the current purpose of this trial and will be deleted after its completion.Identification using fingerprint patternsThis system uses NEC technology to classify fingerprint images collected from multiple fingers of a newborn (a total of four fingers: left thumb, right thumb, left index finger, right index finger) into five categories according to the shape of each whorl(3) and then registers the fingerprint pattern data. The system also combines pattern-based classification with NEC's voice recognition to improve accuracy when verifying the identity of caregivers and newborns. These efforts to increase vaccination coverage support Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3.2, "By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births." The efforts also contribute to the realization of SDG 16.9, "By 2030, provide legal identity for all, including birth registration," by providing all newborns with a record of parent-child relationships and birth location information, as well as a means of identification.(1) NEC research as of February 7, 2023(2) Source: Levels and trends in child mortality, Report 2021, UN-IGMEnew windowhttps://data.unicef.org/resources/levels-and-trends-in-child-mortality/(3) The number of categories is under verification and may be changed in the future About NEC CorporationNEC Corporation has established itself as a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies while promoting the brand statement of "Orchestrating a brighter world." NEC enables businesses and communities to adapt to rapid changes taking place in both society and the market as it provides for the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. For more information, visit NEC at https://www.nec.com. Copyright 2023 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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TraceTogether app adds green passes for cleared users to allow quicker entry at places

SINGAPORE - An animated otter against a green background will now show up on the SafeEntry check-in pass of some TraceTogether app users when they clear vaccination and test status checks. In an update on the TraceTogether website at around 10.20am on Thursday (Nov 11), GovTech said this applied to those who are using version 2.11 and above of the app. Those using an older version of the app can update to the latest version. "The green and white passes were designed to enable quick entry at places with Vaccination or Test status checks," said GovTech, adding that the green background will allow staff to see the pass from a distance and clear queues quickly. It said the animated otter will allow venue staff to easily ensure that the person checking in is not using a screenshot. GovTech added: "Plus, what's not to like about a cute floating otter?" In order to get a green background, also known as a green pass, a person must have a green vaccination status on his home screen and a cleared test status where applicable. Those with a green pass simply need to show that page to venue staff, instead of tapping back to their app's home screen. Those who are unvaccinated and do not have a cleared test status will have a white background on their check-in screen, also known as a white pass. They will need to provide reasons or documents to be allowed entry at places that require vaccination or test status checks. White passes will also appear for those who use the group check-in function, said GovTech, citing "privacy and security reasons". In such cases, everyone in the group will need to show staff their vaccination and test status after they have shown the group check-in pass. "We understand this may create inconvenience, but your data privacy and security takes priority," said GovTech. The green and white passes were designed to enable quick entry at places with vaccination or test status checks, said GovTech. PHOTO: TRACETOGETHER/WEBSITE The green and white passes only show when someone checks in using the SafeEntry QR code. Check-ins done by tapping the app against a SafeEntry Gateway Box or SafeEntry Business App will not trigger the display of the passes. Most users on online forum Reddit welcomed the update, with some praising the inclusion of the animated otter. More on this topic   Related Story TraceTogether vaccination status restored after being unavailable to some earlier   Related Story S'pore eases Covid-19 rules from Nov 10: What you need to know "Better late than never, and I like the otter and I like that it's used to make sure it's not a screenshot," wrote one. However, some questioned whether checking in at venues is still necessary. Checking in with SafeEntry first became mandatory on May 12 last year, in order to help contact tracers find close contacts of infected cases quickly. On Monday, Singapore's director of medical services Kenneth Mak was asked whether contact tracing is still being carried out given the high number of daily cases and the goal of living with endemic Covid-19. Associate Professor Mak said at the time that contact tracing is still ongoing, but it is now being done in a more targeted manner, focusing on clusters and locations with vulnerable people.   Related Stories:  Related Story Singapore, Malaysia to start VTLs for quarantine-free air travel from Nov 29 Related Story S'pore eases Covid-19 rules from Nov 10: What you need to know Related Story Increasing ICU beds for Covid-19 patients may lead to poorer care for others Related Story Why do more men die of Covid-19? Related Story China ramps up Covid-19 controls, warns of severe situation as winter sets in Related Story How does Merck's Covid-19 pill compare with Pfizer's? Related Story Oxford scientists find gene that doubles risk of dying from Covid-19 Related Story What you need to know about the new Covid-19 Delta Plus variant AY.4.2 Related Story What scientists know about the risk of breakthrough Covid-19 deaths Related Story What the future holds for the coronavirus and us

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askST: Must employers pay for tests for unvaccinated staff who have to report to the workplace?

SINGAPORE - Staff who return to the workplace must be fully vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 in the past 270 days, from Jan 1 next year (2022). There are some 113,000 unvaccinated workers in Singapore. Only a small proportion are medically ineligible for the Covid-19 vaccination. Around 14,000 unvaccinated workers are above the age of 60 and at high risk of severe illness or death from Covid-19 infection. These figures were released by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Saturday (Oct 23), when it announced that only fully vaccinated employees or those who have recovered from Covid-19 can return to the workplace. MOH and MOM noted that 96 per cent of Singapore's workforce had been vaccinated and that 70 per cent of firms had attained 100 per cent vaccination coverage for their employees as at Oct 17. The latest expansion of vaccination-differentiated measures means unvaccinated people will need to test negative for Covid-19 before they can return to the workplace. They will need to pay for these antigen rapid tests, the results of which are valid for 24 hours. Employers who are negligent or wilful in allowing unvaccinated workers to enter the workplace without a valid pre-event test (PET) result will be in breach of safe management measures. Here are some details that businesses need to know about the new rules, according to MOM. Q: Do I need to pay for tests for my unvaccinated employees who need to report to the workplace? A: Unvaccinated staff who are medically eligible for Covid-19 vaccines will have to bear the costs of tests, which can be done at an MOH-approved test provider. Employers should come to reasonable arrangements with pregnant employees on sharing the costs of their tests. Companies are strongly encouraged to give special consideration to pregnant employees' needs and concerns, and should consider supporting them through measures such as allowing them to work from home if they are able to do so, according to a separate advisory by MOM, MOH, the National Trades Union Congress and the Singapore National Employers Federation. Pregnant staff are, however, strongly encouraged to be vaccinated as they will otherwise be at higher risk of complications should they contract Covid-19. They should consult their obstetricians. Q: The unvaccinated workers in my company undergo regular testing twice a week, but need to report to work every day. Do they need to be tested more frequently next year? A: Unvaccinated employees can return to the workplace on the days they take the antigen rapid test and test negative. Additional tests will be required on other days when regular testing is not done and they need to report to the workplace. Q: My unvaccinated worker's test result is not valid for the full duration that he is at the workplace. Is he allowed to remain at work? A: The PET result is valid for 24 hours and must cover the full duration that staff need to be at work. Employees who need to remain at work must obtain a negative result on another test that is valid for the duration not covered by the first test. Q: My employee refuses to disclose his vaccination status. What should I do? A: Employers may treat these workers and prospective staff as unvaccinated when it comes to matters such as accessing the workplace, implementing workforce vaccination measures and bearing additional costs, according to MOM. Companies may ask employees to show their vaccination status through their TraceTogether app and token, HealthHub app or their physical vaccination card. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM Q: How do I check employees' vaccination status? A: Companies may ask employees to show their vaccination status through the TraceTogether app and token, HealthHub app or physical vaccination card. Q: My foreign employee was declared medically ineligible for vaccination in his home country. Can I accept that as proof of him being medically ineligible? A: Such workers will need to be certified medically ineligible for the vaccines under Singapore's national vaccination programme by a registered doctor here. Q: Can I require potential hires to be vaccinated? A: Yes, companies can require potential employees to be vaccinated while recruiting them or in job advertisements. Q: Do vaccinated employees need to be tested before they enter the workplace? A: Companies must comply with existing regulations for testing vaccinated employees. If there are no such requirements, employers are still encouraged to regularly test vaccinated employees who return to the workplace, as well as bear the costs of tests for these employees. More on this topic   Related Story Living with Covid-19: New domestic, border measures announced on Oct 23   Related Story 3 'brakes' needed to control spread of Covid-19 in S'pore Q: Do visitors such as customers and clients also need to be vaccinated? A: Visitors to workplaces are typically transient in nature, so they are not subject to workforce vaccination measures. Self-employed individuals - including delivery drivers, private-hire drivers and real estate agents - are generally also exempted from these measures because many of them do not have fixed workplaces. However, owners of premises should implement the measures for self-employed people who work regularly at these places. Non-employees - such as independent contractors and vendors - need to comply with the workforce vaccination rules if they work in the same place as other staff.   Related Stories:  Related Story China on high alert as Covid-19 outbreaks linked to domestic tourists spread Related Story S'pore's Covid-19 measures to be extended till Nov 21, to be reviewed at 2-week mark Related Story What you need to know about the new Covid-19 Delta Plus variant AY.4.2 Related Story Ed Sheeran says he has tested positive for Covid-19 Related Story Small needles, short queues and few tears - Biden's plan to vaccinate young children Related Story Street gangs may hold key to New Zealand hitting 90% Covid-19 vaccination rate target Related Story Will new Covid-19 treatments prove to be as elusive for poor countries as vaccines? Related Story What scientists know about the risk of breakthrough Covid-19 deaths Related Story What the future holds for the coronavirus and us Related Story Why some nations have deadlier outbreaks with the same Covid-19 vaccines

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Man charged with forging Covid-19 vaccination document to eat at restaurant

SINGAPORE - A man was so intent on dining at a restaurant amid the Covid-19 pandemic that he allegedly forged a doctor's memorandum, purportedly showing that he was fully vaccinated against the virus. Chinese national Zhang Shaopeng, 30, who appeared in a district court on Wednesday (Sept 15) via video link from the Central Police Division, was charged with one count of forgery. Court documents did not reveal his actual vaccination status. This is believed to be the first reported case of a person being charged in court over forging a vaccination document in an attempt to dine at a restaurant. Earlier this month, Zhang is said to have forged the doctor's memorandum, which was dated Aug 26. He is accused of amending the document by adding his name to it so that others would assume that he was fully vaccinated against Covid-19. In a statement on Tuesday evening, the police said Zhang allegedly produced a digital copy of the forged memorandum at an Orchard Road restaurant as he wanted to dine there on Sept 1. They did not disclose details of the eatery. The police added: "The staff of the establishment made a check on the memorandum and suspected that it could have been be forged." The staff requested the man to leave and he complied. They then reported the matter to the police. After investigations, officers from Tanglin Police Division managed to establish Zhang's identity and they arrested him on Tuesday. Zhang, who was unrepresented in court, was offered bail of $5,000 on Wednesday. His pre-trial conference will be held on Sept 21. For forgery, an offender can be jailed for up to four years and fined. More on this topic   Related Story S'pore restaurants find fake vaccination certs, some disgruntled diners in first week of dining in   Related Story Courts & Crime: Read more stories

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Singapore crosses 80 per cent Covid-19 vaccination milestone: Ong Ye Kung

SINGAPORE - The nation's Covid-19 vaccination rate has reached a new milestone, with 80 per cent of the population having received two doses of the vaccine as at Sunday (Aug 29). Revealing this in a Facebook post on Sunday, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said: "Singapore has taken another step forward in making ourselves more resilient to Covid-19." Mr Ong said more than 4,300 homebound individuals have received their Covid-19 jab by the home vaccination teams. The Health Ministry receives about 700 requests for home vaccinations each week and it has tripled its home vaccination teams from 11 to 33 teams with help from 200 volunteer doctors and nurses and the Singapore Armed Forces, he said. As a result, waiting time has been halved from eight weeks to four weeks, he added. "We aim to complete all home vaccinations by end-Sept. That will be another important step forward," he said. On Friday, the Health Ministry said that three unvaccinated seniors died of Covid-19 complications on Thursday and Friday. Two were "non-ambulatory and had limited movement outside of their homes", the ministry said in its nightly update. More on this topic   Related Story Number of home-vaccination teams triples, reducing waiting times for homebound seniors   Related Story 3 unvaccinated seniors die of Covid-19 in S'pore

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MOH to track sale of Sinovac Covid-19 vaccination slots, take action if needed

SINGAPORE - Enforcement action will be taken against people who exploit others by selling their Sinovac-CoronaVac Covid-19 vaccination slots. Responding to queries from The Straits Times on Sunday (Aug 22), a spokesman at the Ministry of Health (MOH) said: "Individuals with booking slots should not exploit the situation and take advantage of people who want to be vaccinated." MOH said it will watch out for any such acts of selling vaccination slots and "will proceed to take enforcement action where warranted". Last Wednesday, checks by ST found four bidders on consumer e-marketplace Carousell offering between $50 and $80 to buy the slots. One of the bidders said his family member is unable to receive messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines, such as the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty and Moderna vaccines, under the national vaccination programme due to a medical reason. The Sinovac vaccine is not included in Singapore's national vaccination programme. MOH said it has not received any complaints related to the online posts.  It is unclear if any transaction has taken place. Under the Special Access Route framework, the Government has allocated 170,000 doses of the Sinovac vaccine to 31 approved private healthcare institutions for a total of 85,000 individuals to receive two vaccine doses free of charge. Administration of the second dose is currently ongoing for those who have taken the first dose. The remaining 30,000 doses of the Government's stock have been reserved for Singapore citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders who have allergic reactions to mRNA vaccines, and for other purposes. MOH said it has been providing assistance for private healthcare institutions to import more Sinovac supplies, and estimated that the new stock will arrive by the end of September. MOH added that private healthcare institutions that have been approved to offer the Sinovac vaccine have to screen and ensure that each individual is clinically assessed to be suitable for the jab. This has to be done in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations and the Health Sciences Authority’s Special Access Route requirements. More on this topic   Related Story Vaxxed or vexed: What will life for the unvaccinated be like in Singapore?   Related Story New stock of Sinovac's Covid-19 vaccine to arrive in 4 to 6 weeks   Related Stories:  Related Story New Zealand's Ardern says it has solved Covid-19 outbreak 'puzzle' Related Story Indian states preparing for next Covid-19 wave with focus on children Related Story Emergency widened as Covid-19 runs rampant in Japan Related Story US to begin offering vaccine booster shots in September to 'get ahead' of Covid-19 Related Story Thailand turns to traditional herb to ease Covid-19 pressure on healthcare system Related Story China mahjong dens were Covid-19 superspreader sites, spurring crackdown Related Story As Covid-19 infections rise in South Korea, concerns emerge over collapse of medical system Related Story Sydney lockdown fines raised as Australia faces ‘worst’ Covid-19 situation Related Story Not just coughing and sneezing - talking and singing can also spread Covid-19: NUS study Related Story The world may never reach herd immunity against Covid-19

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More than 100 doctors and nurses have signed up to join home vaccination efforts: Ong Ye Kung

SINGAPORE - More than 100 doctors and nurses have stepped forward over the National Day weekend to assist with home vaccination efforts. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung told The Straits Times on Monday (Aug 9) that 48 doctors and 56 nurses have signed up with SG Healthcare Corps in the 72 hours since he put up his appeal on social media for medical professionals to volunteer their services to provide vaccinations to seniors confined at home. Calling the response very encouraging, Mr Ong said that every vaccinated senior is one more senior protected against Covid-19. "We are following up with the volunteers, and hope this can help us double the number of home vaccination teams to reduce the wait time significantly," he said. The SG Healthcare Corps is a medical reserve force launched in April last year to marshal volunteers in the fight against Covid-19. It consists mainly of medical staff from the private sector, retired medical professionals, as well as those who are medically trained but no longer practising. At a press conference on Friday (Aug 6), Mr Ong said the demand from homebound seniors is "very sizeable and growing", and the current waiting time for them before they get jabbed is "now about eight weeks, which is quite long." "Our home vaccination teams have been working flat out to vaccinate them at home...MOH will have to beef up our resources, increase the number of home vaccination teams in order to cut down the time," he said. "To do so, we will need more teams." Last Friday, Mr Ong had asked on his Facebook and Instagram pages for nurses and doctors to come forward and sign up under the SG Healthcare Corps, so that more such seniors can be vaccinated soon. There are currently about a dozen home vaccination teams which are run by home care providers Speedoc, Jaga-Me, and Edgedale Medical Clinic. Mr Ong said his ministry is aiming to double the number of home vaccination teams so as to reduce the waiting time significantly. He thanked the medical professionals who have come forward: "My deepest appreciation to the volunteer doctors and nurses. I salute your sense of duty and commitment." As at Aug 4, about 1,200 homebound individuals have received their shots by the home vaccination teams, including three fully vaccinated seniors from Pulau Ubin, said MOH. On Monday, MOH said the long waiting time is due to high demand for home vaccination. "Our joint publicity efforts with the People's Association and Silver Generation Office have led to higher awareness for the need to get vaccinated," it said. More on this topic   Related Story Singapore needs more teams to vaccinate those homebound; existing medical teams stepping up   Related Story Man's huge regret after elderly parents get Covid-19: Not convincing them to get vaccinated early The ministry added that the home vaccination service is also available to any homebound individuals and not just seniors. These include people who are either immobile, or have special care needs. The doctors and nurses who signed up will be matched with the medical service providers currently running the home vaccination teams, who will deploy and remunerate them, it added. More on this topic   Related Story More seniors in S'pore get their Covid-19 jabs after vaccination teams go to the heartland   Related Story 3 common misconceptions about Covid-19 vaccines among seniors in Singapore   Related Stories:  Related Story Dine-in to resume, more can work from office: All about S'pore's rules easing from Aug 10 Related Story Relief and caution as Malaysia eases Covid-19 rules for the vaccinated Related Story China reports more Covid-19 cases while some cities kick off new tests Related Story Australia expands Covid-19 lockdown over concern of spread to countryside Related Story Covid-19 fight: Is the future just a spike protein stamping on a human face, forever? Related Story The Delta dilemma: How Covid-19 variant is disrupting the world's reopening plans Related Story Unvaccinated people twice as likely to be reinfected with Covid-19, study shows Related Story Covid-19: Mixed messaging hampering US fight against Delta variant Related Story Japan debates hospitalising only the sickest Covid-19 patients as cases hit record Related Story Flawed scientific papers fuelling Covid-19 misinformation

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Singapore needs more teams to vaccinate those homebound; existing medical teams stepping up

SINGAPORE - Lugging a cooler chest containing Covid-19 vaccines and a 15kg suitcase filled with medical equipment, resuscitation tools and an oxygen canister, Dr Nathaniel Ng and a nurse headed to a Housing Board flat in Hougang to vaccinate a senior citizen. After thoroughly checking that the woman was eligible for vaccination, and recording her vitals, the nurse administered the injection. They then observed the bedbound senior for 30 minutes. After confirming that she had no allergic or anaphylactic reactions, and therefore no need for their standby resuscitation equipment or medicines, they bid farewell and moved to the next location. They had at least 10 more homes to visit. The daily workload has doubled in recent weeks for Dr Ng and the dozen other home vaccination teams conducting at-home jabs. The scheme caters to immobile seniors who are not able to make their own way to vaccination centres. When it started in June, each home vaccination team visited six to eight households a day. Since a month ago, they have had to inoculate up to 14 seniors a day, working shifts that last between 10 and 12 hours, said Dr Ng, who is medical director of home care service Jaga-Me. Last Friday (Aug 6), Health Minister Ong Ye Kung revealed that the waiting time for a senior applying to be vaccinated at home is now eight weeks. He called for healthcare workers outside the public sector to step forward to help. The Health Ministry (MOH) said 1,200 homebound seniors have been vaccinated under the initiative as at Aug 4. Jaga-Me is one of three medical providers appointed by MOH to spearhead home vaccinations. It runs three teams, while two other firms, Speedoc and Edgedale Medical Clinic, run five teams each. Speedoc's chief executive Dr Shravan Verma said demand for the service is extremely high, as more family members push for their elderly loved ones to be vaccinated. From Tuesday (Aug 10), differentiated measures will apply to vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals here. "There has also been a whole-of-nation, whole-of-government effort in encouraging more people to get vaccinated (and) we have indeed been receiving longer lists," he said. Currently, the teams innoculate seniors on weekdays, and use the weekends to study seniors' health records and to draw up the coming week's schedule. At times, some of the homebound teams have also assisted mobile vaccination teams deployed to heartland locations near where many seniors stay. Besides senior citizens, those who have been vaccinated at home included patients with dementia, stroke, and lung conditions. PHOTO: AIC Teams under Jaga-Me have shortened their lunch breaks from an hour to 30 minutes and are even eating on the move so that more seniors can get their jabs, said Dr Ng. They have also optimised their travel routes as much as possible to avoid delays on the road. Despite this, some bottlenecks are more difficult to optimise away. For one, each team is constrained by the six-hour lifespan of the diluted Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty vials. "The vaccines can only last six hours after leaving the vaccination centre and the team needs to observe each patient for at least half an hour after administering. "This means the number each team can vaccinate per day will hit a limit. Traffic may be bad at times also," said Dr Ng. "The workaround is to deploy more teams." Besides senior citizens, those who have been vaccinated at home included patients with dementia, stroke, and lung conditions. Younger people who are unable to leave their homes - including those with spinal muscular atrophy and autism - have also been vaccinated this way, added Dr Ng. The initiative has helped push up vaccine coverage for those above 70 years old. At a press conference last Friday, Mr Ong said the vaccination rate for this age group is now 82 per cent, compared to 74 per cent a month ago. More on this topic   Related Story More than 100 doctors and nurses have signed up to join home vaccination efforts: Ong Ye Kung   Related Story More seniors in S'pore get their Covid-19 jabs after vaccination teams go to the heartland The minister noted that the large majority of those still not vaccinated fall under two groups. The first are those who had earlier been advised not to take the jabs due to illnesses or allergies. Singapore's expert committee has said that most of them can now be vaccinated, given data collected from millions of jabs given globally. The other group are those who are immobile and confined to their homes. While most people rested over the long National Day weekend, healthcare workers here ensured that the national vaccination drive remained in full swing. Trucks armed with loudspeakers to spread the vaccination message in heartlands began plying the roads last Friday. Mobile vaccination teams continued to be sent to various locations such as void decks, while vaccination centres at community clubs offered shots until the evening of National Day. More on this topic   Related Story More doctors, nurses needed for Covid-19 mobile vaccination teams: Ong Ye Kung   Related Story Man's huge regret after elderly parents get Covid-19: Not convincing them to get vaccinated early Stepping up to meet demand All three firms which are currently providing home vaccinations told The Straits Times they are assembling more teams in order to meet the demand. Speedoc said it will be forming three more teams. "We have put out call-outs (for doctors and nurses), and are tapping all our professional connections to make it work," said Dr Verma. At the same time, Jaga-Me is planning to form two more teams and have started to advertise for healthcare workers through job portals and social media, said Mr Julian Koo, the home care provider's chief executive. Speedoc's and Jaga-Me's current teams are staffed by full-time and locum, or stand-in, healthcare workers. Edgedale Medical Clinic has two more teams being formed in the next two weeks, said its director, Dr Yan Shi Yuan. Some doctors and nurses have also signed up under the SG Healthcare Corps in response to Mr Ong's social media call. One of them is Dr Desmond Wai from the Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases Centre at Mt Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre. Edgedale Medical Clinic has two more teams being formed in the next two weeks. PHOTO: AIC Dr Wai said he emailed the SG Healthcare Corps on Saturday and received an automatic reply saying that there has been overwhelming positive response to the Corps. A follow-up email he received came with a form which asked for applicants' availability, such as weekdays or weekends, and when they can start work. The form, seen by ST, stated that details of shortlisted applicants will be sent to the private medical service providers running the home vaccination teams, and that the providers will contact the applicants for an interview. Dr Wai said he is happy to help with the home vaccinations, and that he is open to rescheduling his own patients' appointments as long as he has enough lead time. "Most of my patients are very nice. If they know I'm helping with this (home vaccinations), they will be understanding," said Dr Wai. "Weekends would eat into my family time, but if I were to spend one weekend for this 'national service' for the nation, I think my family won't mind." More on this topic   Related Story Jump in Covid-19 community cases sparks urgency to get jabbed   Related Story Divergent lives from Tuesday for the vaccinated and unvaccinated in S'pore Dr Wai, who shared Mr Ong's Facebook post on his own page, said he knows of a few more doctors who have signed up. Dr Lee Joon Loong, medical director of Paddington Medical, called and e-mailed MOH when his wife alerted him to Mr Ong's Instagram post. He wants to help with the home vaccination efforts on Tuesdays or Thursdays as he has stopped scheduling clinic appointments and elective surgeries on both days. "I always have a passion for helping the elderly. If I'm needed as a geriatric-trained primary care doctor to help convince and vaccinate seniors, I'd gladly do so," he said. More on this topic   Related Story 3 common misconceptions about Covid-19 vaccines among seniors in Singapore   Related Stories:  Related Story Dine-in to resume, more can work from office: All about S'pore's rules easing from Aug 10 Related Story Relief and caution as Malaysia eases Covid-19 rules for the vaccinated Related Story China reports more Covid-19 cases while some cities kick off new tests Related Story Australia expands Covid-19 lockdown over concern of spread to countryside Related Story Covid-19 fight: Is the future just a spike protein stamping on a human face, forever? Related Story The Delta dilemma: How Covid-19 variant is disrupting the world's reopening plans Related Story Unvaccinated people twice as likely to be reinfected with Covid-19, study shows Related Story Covid-19: Mixed messaging hampering US fight against Delta variant Related Story Japan debates hospitalising only the sickest Covid-19 patients as cases hit record Related Story Flawed scientific papers fuelling Covid-19 misinformation

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Publicity trucks to drive up Covid-19 vaccine awareness among seniors

SINGAPORE - In a bid to get more seniors to take the Covid-19 jabs, two trucks will go around heartland areas in the next few weeks to spread messages on vaccination, said the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) on Saturday (Aug 7). The #IGotMyShot trucks, which started making their rounds on Friday, will be deployed in the same areas as the Ministry of Health's (MOH) mobile vaccination teams, including Woodlands, Yishun, Bukit Merah, Hougang, Sengkang, Bedok, Tampines and Jurong West. They will broadcast pre-recorded messages in the four official languages and selected dialects, and also display posters, calling on unvaccinated seniors to get their shots with the mobile vaccination teams nearby. An emcee in each truck will provide more information, such as about the specific locations and operation hours of the teams. These efforts come amid a push to vaccinate more seniors, who are at higher risk of being infected by the coronavirus and becoming seriously ill. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Friday that the 10 mobile vaccination teams deployed so far have vaccinated about 3,340 seniors aged above 60. The percentage of people aged 60 to 69 who have received at least one vaccine dose went up from from 84 per cent a month ago to 89 per cent now. For those above 70, vaccine coverage increased from 74 per cent a month ago to 82 per cent now. But this still leaves nearly 20 per cent of seniors above 70 unvaccinated, lagging behind all other age groups. In a Facebook post on Saturday, Mr Ong said the trucks hark back to kampung days, when such publicity trucks plied neighbourhoods to raise awareness on key government programmes, including mass vaccination drives for smallpox in 1959. "It was a hard won battle," he added calling on seniors to get vaccinated. "Today, our way to protect our citizens from infectious diseases remains the same." More on this topic   Related Story 1,200 housebound seniors in S'pore jabbed; demand for Covid-19 home vaccination remains high   Related Story Mobile Covid-19 vaccination teams go to the heartland to get more seniors jabbed   Related Stories:  Related Story 'Lockdown-lite': What Japan does to curb Covid-19 spread Related Story White House says 50% of Americans fully vaccinated against Covid-19 Related Story Delta-spooked Philippine capital goes back to hard, sweeping Covid-19 lockdown Related Story Taiwanese hesitant on receiving domestically developed Covid-19 vaccines Related Story Malaysian family gets Covid-19 after visiting clinic, cites lax controls Related Story US doctors say the Delta coronavirus variant is making younger adults sicker, quicker Related Story China's Wuhan to test 'all residents' as Covid-19 returns Related Story Hong Kong recalibrates Covid-19 strategy to maintain zero-infection record Related Story Flawed scientific papers fuelling Covid-19 misinformation Related Story Five pandemic truths that defy intuition

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Number of unvaccinated seniors aged 60 and above now below 170,000: Ong Ye Kung

SINGAPORE - Vaccination rates have been going up among seniors who are aged 60 and above, though more work still needs to be done, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Saturday (July 31).  Speaking at a mobile vaccination centre which was set up at 22A Whampoa Precinct Hall on Saturday (Aug 31), Mr Ong said that the mobile vaccination teams have been up and running for three weeks so far, and have been effective in ramping up vaccination rates among seniors.  The number of unvaccinated seniors from this age group has fallen to 177,000, said Mr Ong on Saturday. During a press conference on July 20, the multi-ministry task force on Covid-19 had said that the figure was 200,000, with a bigger push in the coming weeks to get these seniors inoculated. Since July 7, mobile vaccination teams alone have reached out to about 3,240 individuals, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in an update on Saturday. These teams go to selected community clubs and centres that are not already being used as vaccination centres, as well as residents’ committee centres at residential blocks, in towns including Bukit Merah, Sengkang, Tampines and Yishun. A resident gets the Covid-19 vaccine from the mobile vaccination team at 22A Whampoa Precinct Hall. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHEN Mr Ong noted that the vaccination drive has largely been working due to these grassroots efforts, and volunteers who have been visiting elderly households and bringing them down for their jabs. “So that’s one prong of our efforts for now, all hands on deck with the mobile vaccination teams, going door to door and bringing them down (for vaccinations),” he said.  The other major effort by MOH is to reach out to all doctors to persuade seniors to get their jabs – a move which has also been quite effective, noted Mr Ong.  Over the weekend, or by Monday, MOH will be reaching out to all general practitioners and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners to get their help in persuading their patients to get vaccinated, he added.  “It’s imperative for us if we want to contemplate opening up our economy... we must reach out to the seniors as they are the most vulnerable... to get as many of them vaccinated as possible,” said Mr Ong.  On Wednesday, Mr Ong said in a Facebook post that about 77 per cent of seniors aged 60 and above have received two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, with 187,000 seniors yet to receive their first dose. Mobile vaccination centres, run by Fullerton Health, will remain for three days at one location and return in a couple of weeks for residents to get their second jab.  Fullerton Health’s group chief executive Ho Kuen Loon told reporters on Saturday that three of its mobile teams have been going around the island. Each team has a capacity to deliver some 200 shots a day.  The teams have covered neighbourhoods in Whampoa and Kallang in the past two weeks, he added. “(At the mobile vaccination centres), we are able to spend more time to address the residents’ concerns, who are mostly elderly,” he said.  Their concerns include having existing chronic disease and being on medication, making them unsuitable for vaccination. Some are worried about the possible side effects of the vaccine.  Mr Ho noted that many of the residents who turn up have the intention to get their jabs, but are a little hesitant and need some convincing.  Many are also accompanied by caregivers, who are seniors themselves and had not planned on getting jabbed as they are worried that no one will be able to take care of their family members should they suffer from any side effects.  More on this topic   Related Story 77% of seniors aged 60 and above fully vaccinated against Covid-19   Related Story Vaccinating seniors against Covid-19 will pave the way to a new normal in Singapore This was the case for Madam Ho Ping, 84, who had initially planned to accompany her husband for his first jab, but ended up receiving hers too.  She said in Mandarin: “My husband has many illnesses, so I’m worried that if I get jabbed too and experience side effects, I won’t be able to look after him if he is unwell.” After receiving assurance from the doctors that side effects from the jab are usually mild, she agreed to receive the vaccine together with him.  Madam Ho also scheduled her second jab to be after her husband’s jab, so that she could look after him if he were to experience any side effects.  Another resident, Mr Teo Pek Leong, 72, brought his wife, Madam Lee Lye Choon, 70, for her jab, as the mobile vaccination centre is now more conveniently located for them.  Mr Teo said that he had not found the time to bring her previously, as Madam Lee is a wheelchair user and needs kidney dialysis weekly.  He said: “I often am very tired after I bring her (for kidney dialysis) so it’s good that this centre is close by.” More on this topic   Related Story The faster S'poreans get their vaccines, the sooner Singapore can return to normalcy   Related Story 3 common misconceptions about Covid-19 vaccines among seniors in Singapore   Related Stories:  Related Story Covid-19 Delta variant is as contagious as chickenpox, says CDC internal report Related Story Covid-19 vaccine in a tablet - the next leap in the battle against deadly virus Related Story Flawed scientific papers fuelling Covid-19 misinformation Related Story 'Photos of bodies stacked at hospitals are real': Malaysia undertakers struggle as Covid-19 deaths soar Related Story S'pore to review Covid-19 rules in early August, may ease measures for vaccinated people Related Story Three people attending Olympics from overseas hospitalised for Covid-19 in Tokyo; one discharged Related Story 'Culture police' help in the battle to contain Covid-19 in Bali Related Story An unusually fatal Covid-19 outbreak in Taiwan driven by complacency Related Story Amid disparate efforts to curb Covid-19 pandemic, Yangon residents hang yellow flags to call for aid Related Story Five pandemic truths that defy intuition

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Spritzer Malaysia Urges Rakyat Malaysia to Get Covid-19 Vaccination

KUALA LUMPUR, Jul 5, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Spritzer Malaysia ("Spritzer" or the "Company"), which produces Malaysia's best-selling natural mineral water, is urging Rakyat Malaysia to register themselves for the COVID-19 vaccination to protect themselves and those around them from the spread of new variants that are more transmissible and deadlier given that only about half of the country's population is registered.Since the pandemic started in 2020, the Company has been working closely with frontliners such as the medical team, police force, the military and enforcement agencies to ensure that there is clean water supply available, nationwide. In view of the seriousness of the pandemic, Spritzer has continuously contributed mineral water to several COVID-19 vaccination centres as a support to frontliners, volunteers and those going for vaccination to ensure their most basic need is taken care of. Apart from these initiatives, Spritzer also supports Civil Defence Force teams who are assigned to bury Covid-19 victims in the Klang Valley.Spritzer understands the sacrifices made by the frontliners and enforcement agencies in attending to their duties, especially in tough weather conditions, while the recent jump in infections have further stressed the healthcare system with shortages of ICU beds and tired medical teams.As most of the Spritzer employees have not been able to secure their vaccination appointments, the Company has taken the initiative to acquire the vaccines as part of its response to prioritising their safety and health. This vaccination programme will begin this month.Spritzer hopes that everyone is doing their bit in fighting the pandemic by following the standard operating procedures as laid down by the National Security Council and also adhere to the guidelines provided by the Ministry of Health.Image Download Link https://www.dropbox.com/sh/9vwsno0cuvu8cdc/AADBTdSiNer-OkQVleSgsf6La?dl=0 Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Third Covid-19 vaccine centre for students opens at ITE College West

SINGAPORE - The third dedicated Ministry of Education (MOE) vaccination centre to support the vaccination roll-out for students opened on Monday (June 14) at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College West in Choa Chu Kang. Two centres had opened earlier at the college's campuses in Ang Mo Kio and Simei, while a fourth will open at the Raffles City Convention Centre on Tuesday. More than 300,000 students across Singapore have registered for their vaccination appointments thus far, of whom over 101,000 have taken their first dose, said Second Education Minister Maliki Osman. About 345,000 SMSes and invites had been sent to eligible students. Dr Maliki gave reporters an update on student vaccination numbers on the sidelines of a visit to the school to launch the vaccination centre on Monday. "Our first batch, our graduating students, about 90 per cent of them have already registered, and about 75 per cent received their first doses. "It's very encouraging to see how the students are responding to all these invitations and SMSes that have been given to them." The hope is that all students will be able to get fully vaccinated by the end of August, Dr Maliki added, though this will depend on the response rate. Schools are reaching out to parents of students who did not respond to the vaccination bulletins to find out more about their concerns, he said. "It could be an issue where the parents may not know how to (register)... that they are not quite familiar with the online system. "It could also be that parents have some concerns about issues of safety and so for that, we are asking teachers to reach out to them," he said. Some working parents may also face challenges in getting their children, especially the younger ones, to the vaccination centres. "So, for those groups, we can assure them that all they need to do is when school reopens, to get in touch with the teachers." The schools are ready to help, for example, with transport arrangements, he said. It was earlier announced that Singapore would roll out its vaccination exercise to more than 400,000 students in schools and institutes of higher learning, including autonomous universities, polytechnics and ITE, amid more Covid-19 infections among children. Jemina Yap Ning, 17, a student at ITE College West, receiving the Covid-19 vaccine on June 14, 2021. ST PHOTO: ONG WEE JIN Those affected included students in primary and secondary schools, junior colleges, the Millennia Institute, madrasahs, special education schools, and the international arms of Hwa Chong Institution, Anglo-Chinese School and St Joseph's Institution. Students had been invited to sign up for vaccination slots from June 1, starting with about 56,000 students who will be sitting major examinations like the O and A levels this year. Those aged 18 and above can opt for either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine, while those aged between 12 and 17 will be offered only the Pfizer jab as the Moderna vaccine has not been approved for use with this younger age group. Students in the observation area after receiving their vaccines at the ITE College West vaccination centre on June 14, 2021. ST PHOTO: ONG WEE JIN Dr Maliki said the ITE centres will be able to administer 1,600 doses of the vaccine a day, while the Raffles City centre can do 2,000 doses a day. This week, the three centres will provide vaccinations for ITE students in the morning from 8.30am to 11.30am, and for all other students from 1.30pm to 4.30pm. From next week, the centres will be open to all students. More on this topic   Related Story S'pore's expert panel on Covid-19 vaccination continues to recommend Pfizer, Moderna   Related Story 73,000 in 12-39 age group have made Covid-19 vaccination appointments   Related Stories:  Related Story Malaysia to extend Covid-19 lockdown for two weeks until June 28 Related Story S'pore eases Covid-19 curbs from June 14: All your questions on the new rules answered Related Story India records world's highest daily Covid-19 deaths after data revision Related Story Australians try to fathom why state of Victoria has fared worst with Covid-19 Related Story What's in a name? How WHO arrived at new name for Covid-19 variant B16172 Related Story China's Guangzhou battles against a potent Covid-19 variant Related Story After lavish nights of clubbing in Bangkok, a Covid-19 outbreak Related Story A future with Covid-19: What would life look like? Related Story Mounting risk of Myanmar becoming Covid-19 epicentre amid conflicts Related Story Covid-19 lockdown lessons from US, Hong Kong, China and Australia

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Covid-19 vaccination drive for 400,000 students aged 12 and above kicks off

SINGAPORE - The national Covid-19 vaccination drive for more than 400,000 students aged 12 and above kicked off as early as 8am on Thursday (June 3), starting with those taking their N, O, and A-level examinations. When The Straits Times visited Bishan Community Club on Thursday, there was a steady stream of students and parents accompanying them to take the vaccine. Among the first in line was Anglo-Chinese Junior College student Ryan Oh, 17. Ryan, who is taking the A-level examination this year, said he was doing his part to protect his grandmother who lives with him. Even though most seniors have taken the vaccine, Ryan's grandmother has not been granted approval from her doctor to do so as she has severe allergies. "The new coronavirus variants spread faster, and this new wave of Covid-19 seems more concerning than last year. I don't want to risk passing it to her," he said. One parent, Ms Liza Ng, 46, signed her daughter Shyanne, 17, up for the jab even though she recognises that those who are vaccinated can still get Covid-19. The civil servant said: "It's one of the things I can do to protect my daughter. Even if she gets Covid-19, her symptoms will be less severe." She also chose to book an appointment on the first day of the vaccination roll-out to students, so that her daughter, a National Junior College student can get adequate rest during the June holidays. "Shyanne's second jab in July is on a Friday afternoon, so if she has side effects, she can rest over the weekend. She'll also have three to four weeks to rest before taking her prelims (preliminary exams) in August," she said. For now, only those aged 12 and above as at June 1 can be vaccinated. The national effort aims to keep educational institutions and the community safe. Those aged between 12 and 17 can take only the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, while those aged 18 and above can opt for either the Pfizer or the Moderna jab. Priority is given to secondary and and pre-university students in graduating cohorts who will be taking their examinations in the second half of the year. On Tuesday, the first day students were invited to book their Covid-19 vaccination slots, more than half of the 52,000 parents or students who received SMSes to sign up did so. Over the next two weeks, invitations for jabs will be extended to other full-time students, including those in madrasahs and special education (Sped) schools. More on this topic   Related Story Most parents keen to sign kids up for Covid-19 vaccination despite concerns over side effects   Related Story Students to register for Covid-19 vaccination from June 1: All you need to know about the exercise The entire vaccination exercise for students - which also includes full-time students in continuing education and training programmes, such as those enrolled in master's programmes - is estimated to be completed by August. Vaccinations are available at community clubs islandwide and will soon begin at four dedicated Ministry of Education vaccination centres from next Monday. Three of the centres are located at the Institute of Technical Education college campuses in Ang Mo Kio, Choa Chu Kang and Simei, and the fourth will be at Raffles City Convention Centre.   Related Stories:  Related Story MOH allows special access to Sinovac vaccine through private healthcare sector Related Story Second wave of 'infodemic' hampering Covid-19 vaccination drives Related Story Moderna says different doses likely for Covid-19 variants and for kids under new Lonza deal Related Story WHO approves Sinovac's Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use Related Story 6 key announcements from PM Lee's address on Covid-19 plans Related Story Kuala Lumpur’s usually busy streets turn quiet as Malaysia goes into full Covid-19 lockdown Related Story Covid-19 vaccine could become like yearly flu shot, say experts Related Story WHO switches to Greek alphabet for coronavirus variant names Related Story S'pore still ranks high in Covid-19 vaccination pace despite supply constraints Related Story Covid-19: Why S'pore is in a stronger position than it was last year

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Hostel residents in S’pore unis offered Covid-19 jabs as they live in a communal setting

SINGAPORE - The Ministry of Health (MOH) and Ministry of Education (MOE) have confirmed that hostel residents are being offered Covid-19 vaccinations as they live in a communal setting and are at higher risk. Last week, The Straits Times reported that some students from Nanyang Technological University and the National University of Singapore received SMS text messages from MOH offering them Covid-19 vaccination shots. Those offered jabs were living on campus. The agencies said on Monday (May 10) that they have been working together on the possibility of prioritising hostel residents for vaccination, as the communal setting in hostels has the potential for rapid transmission and outbreaks of the virus. Students and staff living in university hostels have been alerted via SMS that they will be offered the Covid-19 vaccination. They can book a slot at community vaccination centres islandwide. "Individuals who are medically eligible to take up the vaccination are strongly encouraged to do so when offered, to safeguard their health and that of the wider community," the ministries said. MOH and MOE said they will continue to work closely to expand the vaccination programme for the rest of the staff and students in the education sector. More on this topic   Related Story Vaccination helps protect against new Covid-19 variants: MOH   Related Story Covid-19 vaccine: How many doses have been administered in S'pore and around the world   Related Stories:  Related Story Serious reactions to Covid-19 vaccinations rare, affecting 4 in 100,000 in S'pore Related Story Back to phase 2: Cap of 5 people for social gatherings from May 8 Related Story Cap of 5 people for gatherings, smaller events: S'pore's new Covid-19 rules from May 8 Related Story Hospitals to take on extra load, defer non-urgent surgical operations as TTSH cluster grows Related Story TTSH Covid-19 cluster: What we know so far Related Story Anguish, anger in India with lives lost to Covid-19 due to lack of medical help Related Story SingHealth stepping up screening of patients and visitors; hospitals vigilant following TTSH Covid-19 cluster Related Story Limit gatherings to 2 a day, tighter crowd controls at malls: New Covid-19 measures at a glance Related Story BioNTech expects Covid-19 vaccine trial results for babies by September Related Story China administering more Covid-19 vaccines than anywhere else, but still needs to speed up roll-out Related Story S'pore-Hong Kong air travel bubble to start on May 26

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