Fewer tests, less restrictions possible for vaccinated persons if vaccines prove to prevent Covid-19 spread

• If vaccines reduce transmission risk, the Government could consider relaxing measures for vaccinated persons
• Possibilities include fewer tests for vaccinated travellers and removing the requirement for pre-event testing
• These depend on the ability for vaccines to prevent further spread of the coronavirus, which is still not proven in vaccine candidates
• Until such evidence becomes available, prevailing safe measurement measures apply, Mr Lawrence Wong said

SINGAPORE — Vaccinated travellers could be subject to fewer border control measures such as reduced Covid-19 testing requirements, if the vaccines prove to be able to prevent a person from infecting others, Education Minister Lawrence Wong said in Parliament on Monday (Jan 4).

The Government could also review the safe management rules for vaccinated travellers to the upcoming World Economic Forum (WEF) in the middle of this year, Mr Wong said in response to a question by Ms Foo Mee Har, Member of Parliament for West Coast Group Representation Constituency.

Ms Foo had asked about the measures taken for the global leadership event, which will be held in May 25 to 28, following a ministerial statement in Parliament by Mr Wong on the Government's response to the pandemic. 

The WEF is held yearly in Davos, Switzerland, but is convening in Singapore for the first time in 2021 due to the pandemic.

The meeting will see top governmental and economic leaders gathering here to discuss the world’s most pressing challenges, with the pandemic recovery at the top of its international agenda.

Mr Wong, who is co-chair of the governmental Covid-19 task force, said: “Until we understand the effects of the vaccine (in preventing further transmission), I think we will not be able to make any changes to our measures, be it domestic or travel-related.

“But if the results indicate that vaccinations do offer protection to others, then clearly we can make some adjustments,” he added.

The ability for Covid-19 vaccines to reduce transmission risk, also known as sterilising immunity, is still unproven. 

Current vaccines that have been approved for use are proven to only render the vaccine recipient immune from Covid-19, but little is known about whether being vaccinated protects others from being infected.

Mr Wong said that for now, the vaccinated travellers to the WEF event will still be subject to the prevailing measures.

“For example, we will ‘bubblewrap’ a facility, we will put the travellers under frequent testing to ensure that they are safe, and we will have safe management measures in place. All of these measures are still effective and we should still continue to rely on them.”

However, if more evidence on sterilising immunity appears, the authorities could implement a number of options, such as a shorter duration of the present 14-day stay-home notice or fewer Covid-19 tests a vaccinated traveller needs to take.

It is also “conceivable” that those who are vaccinated may not be required to take a pre-event test, Mr Wong added.

Singapore is piloting pre-event testing for larger-scale activities using rapid antigen tests, a type of Covid-19 testing that is less sensitive but quicker than the standard PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests.

The antigen test costs around S$50 a person, with the price expected to come down in future.

“Frequent and widespread testing is an important enabler, which we intend to ramp up over the coming months. We must all start getting used to the idea of regular testing being a part of our lives during this pandemic period,” Mr Wong said in his ministerial statement, adding that Singapore will continue to take a more cautious approach towards travellers. 

“In other words, vaccinated travellers will continue to be subject to prevailing border measures and stay-home notice requirements. We will fine-tune our approach over time, once we have understood the effect of the vaccine better.”

Vaccinations are also part of a broader suite of measures that Singapore needs in its pandemic response, including safe management regulations, Covid-19 testing, border controls and contact tracing, Mr Wong stressed. 

“Vaccination is not a silver bullet and is just part of that overall system.”