Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine licensed for use in Singapore
Singapore has become the first country in Asia to approve Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine as it begins rolling out its immunisation programme to the wider population.
Illustrative photo (Source: Reuters)In a statement on February 3, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said its review of the available clinical data found that the vaccine demonstrated a high efficacy of 94 percent, with the benefits outweighing the risks.
This means that there is a 94 percent reduction of symptomatic COVID-19 disease in a vaccinated group of people, compared with a similarly sized group of unvaccinated people, it said.
The figure is based on a Phase 3 clinical trial in the US which involved over 30,000 people aged 18 to 95.
Singapore expects to receive the first shipment of the Moderna shots around March. The Moderna vaccine is the second COVID-19 vaccine to be authorised for use by the HSA, after the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine approved in December 2020.
More than 175,000 people have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, including health workers and airline staff, while vaccination centres have been set up in recent weeks to start inoculating the elderly, authorities have said.
Singapore expects to have vaccinated its entire population by the third quarter, although last month the government said it was expecting shipment delays of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines due to upgrades in Pfizer’s manufacturing plant./.
You should also see
Leaders pay tribute to President Ho Chi Minh on National Reunification Day
Leaders and former leaders of the Party, State, Government, National Assembly (NA), and Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum in Hanoi on April 26 on the occasion of the 49th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day (April 30, 1975-2024).
See more
ASEAN
Canada, ASEAN consolidate climate change response, economic cooperation
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN
ASEAN youth empowered to unleash potential: ASEAN chief
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
World
Thailand urged to increase proportion of renewable power generation
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
World
Indonesia lifts tsunami alert given after Ruang volcano’s eruption
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
World
Thailand expects to export 1 million tonnes of durian this year
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
