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SINGAPORE : Those who want to get vaccinated against the H1N1 flu virus can do so within the next few days.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) rolled out some 50,000 doses of the vaccine to all 18 polyclinics as well as 440 family doctors on Tuesday. The 440 are part of the 600 Pandemic Preparedness Clinics in Singapore.
This comes six weeks after Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan announced that the ministry managed to secure some one million doses of the vaccine.
The first batch of 250,000 doses arrived in Singapore last week, and it took a few days before the ministry received clearance from the vaccine's manufacturer to release the batch of vaccine after it was certified to have undergone proper handling standards.
DaySpring Medical Clinic in Pasir Ris was one of the first to get the vaccine on Tuesday noon, and is offering the vaccine for S$30.
"We've made a total order of 1,500 doses of the H1N1 vaccine, of which, 1,100 have had patients register an interest. Of these, 600 are for two community projects to be rolled out in the coming month and the remaining 500 will be for either companies that have indicated interest in us, or walk-in patients," said Dr Eric Chiam, medical director of DaySpring Medical Clinic.
The clinic will be calling patients who have registered to get the vaccine in the past few weeks.
In the meantime, Dr Chiam is getting his frontline staff vaccinated against the H1N1 virus. Each dose of the vaccine is expected to give the average person a year's immunity against the virus.
Health Minister Khaw said in his blog on Monday that the first batch of 200,000 doses is sufficient to meet demand.
Of these, about 110,000 doses will be taken up by general practitioners as well as clinics. Another 80,000 doses will be set aside to vaccinate the first batch of frontline staff.
The MOH said another batch of 160,000 doses of the vaccine is expected to arrive within this month.
All one million doses that the ministry ordered will be delivered by the end of the year. This is in line with the ministry's stand that there should be enough vaccines to go around for now. - CNA /ls
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