Boosters needed to be considered fully vaccinated in Singapore

Boosters will be needed to be considered fully vaccinated in Singapore, a change that could be seen in other countries soon.

Officials said in a press conference Wednesday that after Feb. 14 those above the age of 18 will need to receive a booster shot within nine months of completing their initial two-dose vaccine series to be considered fully vaccinated, Bloomberg reported. 

Singapore’s health ministry said individuals should not wait the full nine months and should get the booster shot around the five month mark, per the outlet.

According to Bloomberg, the new requirement for being considered fully vaccinated is the only added COVID-19 measure being implemented in Singapore, with the country avoiding implementing more restrictions even as cases rise.

Daily infections in Singapore are expected to increase to 15,000 as many countries are seeing an uptick in case numbers driven by the omicron variant, according to the outlet. 

Singapore’s Finance Minister Lawrence Wong said the country is planning to maintain its current rules for as long as it can, according to Bloomberg. The country currently requires proof of vaccination to enter most indoor public locations.

“We don’t intend to relax further at this time, and we’ll try not to have to tighten,” Wong said, according to the outlet. “In the event that the health care system comes under tremendous pressure, then as a last resort, we may have no choice but to tighten some of our measures.”

Leading U.S. infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci said in December that it is only a matter of time before the definition of fully vaccinated includes a booster shot in addition to the initial vaccine regimen.