WASHINGTON: He has been President Donald Trump's most loyal soldier, dutifully backing the unpredictable leader through one chaotic situation after another.
Now, Vice President Mike Pence finds himself in the most precarious position of his tenure as he prepares to preside over Wednesday's (Jan 6) congressional tally of Electoral College votes, the last front in Trump's futile attempts to overturn President-elect Joe Biden's victory in the November election.
Seated on the House of Representatives' rostrum, Pence will bear witness to the formalisation of Trump's - and his own - election defeat, as tellers from the House and Senate record states' electoral votes.
At the end of the count, it will be his job to announce who has won the majority of votes for both president and vice president.
But Pence, whose proscribed role is largely pro forma, is under intense pressure from the president and legions of supporters who want the vice president to use the moment to overturn the will of the voters in a handful of critical battleground states.
“I hope Mike Pence comes through for us, I have to tell you," Trump said at a rally in Georgia on Monday night for candidates in two Senate runoff elections.
“Of course, if he doesn’t come through, I won’t like him quite as much,” Trump added, drawing laughs. He said Pence was “going to have a lot to say about it".
"And you know one thing with him, you’re going to get straight shots. He’s going to call it straight,” Trump said.
AN EYE ON 2024
Pence has spent hours huddling with the president, staff and the Senate parliamentarian. His office declined to discuss his plans heading into Wednesday's count. But people close to the vice president stressed his respect for institutions and said they expect him to act in accordance with the law and hew to the Constitution.
“I think he will approach this as a constitutionalist, basically, and say: 'What’s my role in the Constitution as president of the Senate?'” said David McIntosh, president of the conservative Club for Growth and a Pence friend.
"What he’ll do is allow anybody who is going to move to object to be heard, but then abide by what the majority of the Senate makes the outcome.”
In fulfilling one of the few formal responsibilities of the vice presidency, Pence also risks compromising his own political future. Pence is eyeing his own run for the White House in 2024, and is banking on his years of loyalty to Trump - likely to be the GOP's top kingmaker for years to come - to help him stand out in what is expected to be a crowded field.
That means he must avoid angering Trump along with large portions of the Republican base, who have bought into the president's unsupported claims of widespread election fraud and have been falsely led to believe that Pence has the power to reverse the outcome by rejecting the votes from states like Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania that swung from Trump in 2016 to Biden in 2020.
“Stop the steal!” voters in Georgia chanted to Pence at a rally for the Senate candidates at the Rock Springs Church in Milner, Georgia, on Monday.
“I know we all - we all got our doubts about the last election. And I want to assure you, I share the concerns of millions of Americans about voting irregularities,” Pence told the crowd.
“And I promise you, come this Wednesday, we’ll have our day in Congress. We’ll hear the objections. We’ll hear the evidence.”
LARGELY MINISTERIAL ROLE
On Wednesday, beginning at 1pm (2am on Thursday, Singapore time), Pence is to preside over a joint session of Congress. His role is to open the certificates of the electoral votes from each state and present them to the appointed tellers from the House and Senate in alphabetical order. At the end of the count, it falls to Pence to announce who won.
Pence on Sunday held a two-hour meeting that included the Senate parliamentarian to review his role and responsibilities. Allies stress his role is largely ministerial, and that the electoral count could only be overturned by the lawmakers - a virtual impossibility given that Democrats control the House.
But on Monday, Pence was in the Oval Office with Trump and senior aides as the president continued to seek pathways to overturn the election results. The scene appeared animated as the president, Pence and their chiefs of staff met with lawyer John Eastman and others.
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who has been leading the president's legal effort, said in a podcast interview that the team had been consulting with constitutional law professors and analysing Pence's options.
He said Trump and Pence on Monday were “going through all of the research” and would probably wait until Tuesday to make a decision on how to proceed.
“The president will make this decision based on his judgment and the advice that he gets on what the Constitution demands," Giuliani told conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
REPUBLICAN CHALLENGE
Despite claims by Trump and his allies, there was not widespread fraud in the election. This has been confirmed by a range of election officials and by William Barr, who stepped down as attorney general last month. Neither Trump nor any of the lawmakers promising to object to the count have presented credible evidence that would change the outcome.
Nevertheless, more than 100 House Republicans and a dozen Senate Republicans have said they will challenge the electoral votes of at least one of the battleground states on Wednesday.
And on Monday, Republican parties in several states had Ronna McDaniel, who chairs the Republican National Committee, deliver letters to Pence encouraging him to reject the legally selected electors from Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, Nevada and Pennsylvania.
The efforts make it all but impossible for Pence to remain above the fray, as some allies had hoped. Others have expressed regret that some extreme Trump loyalists, including former national security adviser Michael Flynn and attorney Sidney Powell, have tried to drive a wedge between Trump and his vice president during the final days of the administration.
That frustration seems to be shared by Pence, who recently expressed his frustrations to McIntosh about an ad from the anti-Trump group the Lincoln Project that painted the vice president as distancing himself from Trump. So the Club for Growth cut its own ad, which it aired in Palm Beach during Trump's Florida vacation, trumpeting Pence's loyalty to the president.
McIntosh said Pence resented what he felt was a “cheap shot” by the group, adding that he expects Pence to emerge from this week's drama with his reputation intact.
“In the moment, there is that uncomfortable feeling, but in the long run, people respect you if you do what you think is right and explain why you do it," he said. “This moment will pass. The decision will be made.”
SINGAPORE - People who choose not to get the Covid-19 vaccine will not need to have a change of duties at their workplaces, unless there is a resurgence in the number of local cases, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong on Monday (Jan 4).
He was responding to Mr Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang), who had asked if those who are not vaccinated will have their job scopes reviewed, in order to reduce exposure to the virus.
All workers should continue to take the necessary precautions such as wearing masks, and where required, don personal protective equipment and undergo rostered routine testing, Mr Gan added.
He noted that there are certain groups of employees, such as researchers or laboratory staff, who may be working directly with the Covid-19 virus or face high risk of exposure to infected individuals.
The Health and Manpower ministries are reviewing the issue of vaccinating workers in such workplace settings, and will provide further advice later, he said.
This scheme will support those who suffer a serious adverse event that is assessed to be related to Covid-19 vaccines administered in Singapore.
"While we expect few to need this, the programme will give peace of mind to those taking the vaccination," he said. "Further details on the programme will be provided in due course."
Mr Gan said that the Health Sciences Authority, as well as an independent expert committee appointed by his ministry, have studied the data on potential side effects caused by the Covid-19 vaccine.
The data includes information from clinical trials as well as the actual experience of countries where vaccination efforts are under way.
"They have factored this into their evaluation before granting authorisation or making a recommendation on the use of Covid-19 vaccines," he said.
People who get the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine may experience side effects such as pain at the injection site, fatigue, fever, muscle aches or headaches.
People will also be observed on-site for 30 minutes post-vaccination, so that any severe allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis can be detected and treated promptly.
SINGAPORE: COVID-19 vaccines will be allowed to be used only if the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) assesses it to be “sufficiently efficacious and safe for use”, and only if the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risk of any potential adverse effects, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong on Monday (Jan 4).
Mr Gan delivered a ministerial statement in Parliament in response to questions by Members of Parliament (MP) on the COVID-19 vaccines, addressing concerns about its safety, side effects and effectiveness.
MPs’ concerns are “understandable”, he said, given the “extraordinary speed” at which the vaccines have been developed and brought to the market.
“The speed achieved is the result of a strong and concerted global response to a major pandemic, rather than a compromise of safety standards,” he said, adding that the safety and well-being of Singaporeans are of “top priority”.
He highlighted HSA’s approval process, which involves applying “strict international standards” to assess the vaccines to ensure they meet “the stipulated high standards of quality, safety and efficacy”.
These standards are the same as those used for full vaccine evaluations, except that longer-term data from clinical trials will only be evaluated later as more data becomes available.
The data reviewed include those from pre-clinical studies from laboratories, clinical trials on volunteers, manufacturing and quality control, and the ongoing experience from actual use of the vaccine.
The assessment and recommendations for the vaccines are also reviewed by HSA’s Medicines Advisory Committee and Panel of Infectious Diseases Experts.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been put through this “rigorous review process” process by HSA and has been authorised for use in Singapore, said Mr Gan. The Moderna and Sinovac vaccines are also going through this review process, he added.
Following HSA’s approval for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, an independent expert committee appointed by the Ministry of Health (MOH) has also reviewed the clinical data and was briefed by the HSA on the full range of considerations in granting “interim authorisation”.
It agreed with the HSA’s conclusions that the vaccine is suitable for use in Singapore for people aged 16 and above.
On whether the vaccines are effective against a new strain of COVID-19 virus reported in the UK and Europe, Mr Gan said “there is currently no evidence that current COVID-19 vaccines are less effective against this strain”.
“Experts have said that it is unlikely that these mutations would impact the effectiveness of current vaccines,” said the Health Minister.
Vaccine producers are also undertaking studies to formally confirm this, and MOH will evaluate the data as it emerges.
SIDE EFFECTS
Some potential side effects from the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine include pain in the injection site, fatigue, fever, muscle aches or headaches.
“These are similar to the side effects for other established vaccines and they usually resolve on their own in a few days,” said Mr Gan, adding that HSA and the expert committee have factored potential side effects into their evaluation of the vaccine.
However, as with all medications and established vaccines, there is a “small risk of very rare but serious adverse events” that may occur after vaccination, including allergic reactions, said the minister.
As such, HSA and the expert committee have recommended that those with known severe allergies should not be vaccinated. All vaccine recipients should be observed on-site for 30 minutes after vaccination to ensure that any severe allergic reactions can be detected and treated promptly.
MOH will also introduce a vaccine injury financial assistance programme to support those who suffer a "serious adverse event" that is assessed to be related to COVID-19 vaccines administered in Singapore, he said.
"While we expect few to need this, the programme will give peace of mind to those taking the vaccination," he added.
More details will be released in due course, the Health Minister said.
HSA requires vaccine manufacturers to submit new information continually for active review by the authority and the expert committee, said Mr Gan.
It will include data on different population groups, such as those younger than 16, those with immunosuppression, or pregnant women who were excluded from initial clinical trials. HSA and the expert committee will also look at long-term safety data.
“This ongoing monitoring is the norm expected for any vaccines that first come into use,” said Mr Gan.
He said there is no need to separate blood collected from donors who have and have not received COVID-19 vaccinations, as the vaccine does not cause infection.
ENCOURAGING UPTAKE OF VACCINATIONS
While vaccinations are voluntary, the Government “strongly encourages” everyone who is medically eligible to get vaccinated.
“This will not only protect yourself, but also indirectly protect others who cannot be vaccinated due to medical reasons,” said Mr Gan.
“This collective protection will be more effective the more people are vaccinated. In case of a fresh outbreak, with more people vaccinated we can keep the number of cases low, minimise the stress on our healthcare system, ensure that those who are ill get the treatment they need, and allow us to return to normalcy sooner.”
Although some people might feel there is no urgency to get vaccinated due to the current low number of community cases and the local situation being under control, Singapore residents “must not be complacent or wait till an outbreak and then rush to be vaccinated”, he said.
There are hidden cases in the population, and more contagious variants have emerged, he added.
“Any of these cases has a risk of sparking a major outbreak as we have seen in other countries,” said the Health Minister.
“The best time to vaccinate is now. If people wait till an outbreak has happened to get themselves vaccinated, it will be too late, both to protect themselves and to prevent the outbreak in the first place.”
COVID-19 vaccination will be free for all Singaporeans, permanent residents and long-term residents, including holders of an employment pass, S pass, work permit, dependant’s pass, long-term visit pass or student pass. It will also be free for foreign domestic workers.
Singapore residents would not be allowed to choose their vaccines if more than one has been approved for use.
“The allocation of vaccines will largely be based on medical indications of the different vaccines and the suitability of the vaccine for the different population groups, as well as availability of the vaccines,” said Mr Gan.
“Any COVID-19 vaccine that is approved for use will have to meet stringent safety and efficacy requirements. Allowing individuals to have choice of vaccines will unnecessarily complicate this already complex vaccination programme.”
On whether employees who are not vaccinated would be redeployed to reduce their exposure to the virus, the minister said that it would not be necessary, unless there is a resurgence of local cases.
However, all workers should continue taking the necessary precautions where required. For those working directly on the virus or “face very high risk of exposure” to infected individuals, MOH and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) are reviewing the issue and will provide more advice later.
Anyone who is vaccinated will receive a physical vaccination card to remind them of their appointment to return for a second dose. It will indicate which vaccine was administered and provide brief post-vaccination advice.
Those vaccinated will also have their record updated in the National Immunisation Registry and they can check their vaccination status online, Mr Gan said.
SINGAPORE: A national effort to vaccinate the Singapore population will need “considerable resources” to implement and will be one of the Government’s key focus areas in 2021, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong in Parliament on Monday (Jan 4).
Immunisation has already begun after Singapore received its first shipment of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines on Dec 21, with healthcare workers at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) becoming the first to receive their jabs on Dec 30.
More vaccines are expected to arrive and the Government has been encouraging all medically eligible residents to come forward and get vaccinated.
In his ministerial statement in Parliament, Mr Gan said that the last time Singapore conducted a vaccination exercise of this scale was in 1959, in response to an outbreak of smallpox. Slightly more than 1 million people were vaccinated then.
“The scale of the current effort is larger, but we are also much better prepared. We started planning for this very early on,” said Mr Gan, who co-chairs the multi-ministry task force dealing with the pandemic, along with Education Minister Lawrence Wong.
Mr Gan said Singapore has put in place processes to meet the cold-chain logistics requirements of the vaccines, from delivery to receiving them at the airport, storage and transport to the vaccination sites. Some, like the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines that are based on mRNA technology, require the vaccines to be deep-frozen.
While healthcare workers are receiving their vaccinations, the authorities are readying clinics and vaccination centres for others to be immunised when their turn comes, Mr Gan said.
“Prior bookings will be necessary given the cold-chain requirements at the vaccination sites and multi-dose vials of the vaccines. It will also ensure operational efficiency and minimise individual wait times,” he said, adding that more information on how to make the booking will be provided later.
The vaccine is free for all Singaporeans and long-term residents, including long-term work permit holders.
Singapore should make the most of the current situation, when the community cases are low, to get the population immunised, said the chairman of the Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination. Everyone eligible should get vaccinated, said Associate Professor Benjamin Ong in an exclusive interview with CNA's Cheryl Goh.
“We encourage everyone to come forward for your vaccination when your turn comes so that we can increase our coverage as soon as possible,” he said.
“At the same time, we will test our systems thoroughly before ramping up to ensure that vaccination operations proceed smoothly and patient safety is not compromised.”
Some vaccines, such as Pfizer-BioNTech’s, will require two doses, 21 days apart, and it will take up to 14 more days after the second dose to achieve maximum protection against the virus.
FRONTLINE WORKERS TO GET VACCINATED FIRST
Singapore will prioritise vaccinations for groups that are most at risk, consistent with World Health Organization guidelines, Mr Gan stressed.
“As more vaccines are approved for use, we will adjust our vaccination programme, depending on the vaccine supply as well as the disease epidemiology at that point in time,” he said.
Besides workers in the healthcare sector, authorities will prioritise COVID-19 frontline workers as well as other essential workers, including swabbers hired by the Health Promotion Board and staff working at government quarantine facilities, community care facilities and at dedicated stay-home notice facilities.
Vaccinations for the elderly and those at greater risk of severe disease from COVID-19 infection will start next month, beginning with seniors aged 70 and above. Next in line are those in jobs or settings where the risk of a super-spreading event is high, such as the construction, marine and process sector, including migrant workers, Mr Gan said.
Other Singaporeans and long-term residents who are medically eligible will come next. Currently, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is not recommended for pregnant women, those under the age of 16 and individuals whose immune systems are compromised.
In response to a supplementary question from Aljunied GRC MP Leon Perera on where the vaccines will be administered, Mr Gan said the Health Ministry will take into account accessibility and convenience when setting up vaccination sites.
They will include polyclinics, private clinics as well as vaccination centres, while mobile vaccination teams will also be set up for seniors at nursing homes and senior care centres.
"We have to bear in mind that this particular vaccine - Pfizer-BioNTech - is quite challenging to handle ... so it is not so easy to make it available conveniently at all the private clinics, so we will need to work with specific clinics, specific chains," he added.
Answering questions from Members of Parliament about the number of doses of vaccines secured, Mr Gan said that the country will have enough vaccines for all Singaporeans and long-term residents in Singapore. However, he could not disclose the specific quantity ordered, due to “commercial sensitivities and confidentiality undertakings” in the advance purchase agreements signed with the vaccine manufacturers.
Following the first shipment of 31 boxes of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the country is expecting more deliveries in the next few months, including from Moderna and Sinovac.
MPs also asked about other vaccines that may be under review, such as one from AstraZeneca, but Mr Gan said he would not be able to share which vaccines are being evaluated although there were several candidates.
“The vaccines will arrive in Singapore in batches, given high global demand especially from countries with high rates of infection. Pharmaceutical companies will also need time to scale up vaccine production and distribution," he said in his ministerial statement.
"If all goes according to schedule, we will have enough vaccines for everyone by the third quarter of 2021."
Mr Gan warned that new infections will occur in Singapore from time to time, and the country continues to face the risk of new coronavirus clusters and outbreaks in Phase 3 of its reopening, which began on Dec 28.
“This will be the new normal for a long time to come; that is why we still need to keep up our multi-layered defence. In fact, we must further strengthen it as we continue our journey through Phase 3, and vaccination is a new line of defence we must put in place,” he said.
He urged everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated and not wait, after Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC MP Alex Yam said that some elderly residents he spoke to indicated a preference for Sinovac - which uses traditional vaccine technology rather than the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines.
"With regard to Sinovac or any other vaccine that has not been approved, my advice is: Don't wait for them, because we do not know when they will be available, and we also do not know whether they will be approved at all," said Mr Gan.
On why senior public servants and politicians have yet to be vaccinated, Mr Gan said that they did not want to be seen to be "jumping the queue", and priority should be given to healthcare workers. He added that Professor Leo Yee Sin, who heads NCID, was among the first to roll up her sleeve for the vaccine.
"When our time comes. I'm sure all my colleagues will be very happy to step forward to have to get vaccinated," Mr Gan said.
JAKARTA: As Indonesia prepares to begin mass inoculations against COVID-19, its plan to prioritise working age adults over the elderly, aiming to reach herd immunity fast and revive the economy, will be closely watched by other countries.
Several countries such as the United States and Britain that have already begun vaccinations are giving priority to elderly people who are more vulnerable to the respiratory disease.
The following are experts' views on merits and risks of the Indonesian approach, under which working age adults will be vaccinated after frontline health workers and public servants.
WHY 18-59 YEAR-OLDS FIRST?
Indonesia, which plans to begin mass inoculations with a vaccine developed by China's Sinovac Biotech, says it does not have enough data yet of the vaccine's efficacy on elderly people, as clinical trials underway in the country involves people aged 18 to 59.
"We're not bucking the trend," said Siti Nadia Tarmizi, a senior health ministry official, adding authorities would await recommendations from the country's drug regulators to decide on vaccination plans for the elderly.
While Britain and the United States began immunisations with a shot developed by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech that showed it works well in people of all ages, Indonesia has initial access only to the Sinovac vaccine.
The Southeast Asian country has a deal to receive 125.5 million doses of Sinovac's CoronaVac shot, and a first batch of 3 million doses are already in the country.
Shipments of the Pfizer vaccine to the country are expected to begin from the third quarter, while a vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University will start being distributed in the second quarter.
Officers offload a box of Sinovac's vaccine for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as it arrives at the cold room of Indonesia's local health department in Palembang, South Sumatra province, Indonesia, January 4, 2021 in this photo taken by Antara Foto. Antara Foto/Nova Wahyudi/ via REUTERS
"I don't think anybody can get too dogmatic about what is the right approach," said Peter Collignon, professor of infectious diseases at Australian National University, adding that Indonesia's strategy could slow the spread of the disease, although it may not affect mortality rates.
"Indonesia doing it different to the US and Europe is of value, because it will tell us (whether) you'll see a more dramatic effect in Indonesia than Europe or US because of the strategy they're doing, but I don't think anybody knows the answer."
Professor Dale Fisher from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore said he understood the rationale of Indonesia's approach.
"Younger working adults are generally more active, more social and travel more so this strategy should decrease community transmission faster than vaccinating older individuals," he said.
"Of course older people are more at risk of severe disease and death so vaccinating those has an alternative rationale. I see merit in both strategies."
WILL IT HELP ACHIEVE HERD IMMUNITY QUICKLY?
By vaccinating more socially mobile and economically active groups first, Indonesian government officials hope the government can quickly reach herd immunity.
Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Indonesia's health minister, said the country needs to vaccinate 181.5 million people, or roughly 67 per cent of its population, to reach herd immunity, and requires almost 427 million doses of vaccines, assuming a double-dose regimen and a 15 per cent wastage rate.
A healthcare worker holds a swab sample for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) antigen test in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, January 3, 2021. Hendra Nurdiyansyah/Antara Foto via REUTERS
Some experts are sceptical about reaching herd immunity, as more research needs to be done to ascertain whether or not vaccinated people can transmit the virus.
"There could be the risk of people still capable of spreading the disease to the others," said Hasbullah Thabrany, chief of the Indonesian Health Economic Association.
WILL IT HELP ECONOMIC RECOVERY?
Economists have argued a successful vaccination programme covering around 100 million people will help jumpstart the economy, as they are more likely to resume economic activity such as spending and production.
Faisal Rachman, an economist with Bank Mandiri, said that the 18 to 59 age group has consumption needs that are higher than other groups.
"They could jack up the economic recovery faster because household consumption contributes more than 50 per cent to Indonesia's economy," he said, warning that rising COVID-19 cases in the country could also risk lowering people's confidence.
The pandemic pushed Indonesia, Southeast Asia's largest economy, into its first recession in more than two decades last year, with the government estimating a contraction of as much as 2.2 per cent.
SINGAPORE - Prior bookings will be required before people head down to the vaccination centres to receive their Covid-19 shot, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong on Monday (Jan 4).
This is necessary given the cold-chain requirements at the vaccination sites and multi-dose vials of the vaccines, he said.
"It will also ensure operational efficiency and minimise individual wait times," said Mr Gan in Parliament, adding that more information on how to make the bookings will be provided later.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the first one against the coronavirus that has been approved for use in Singapore, with vaccines by other pharmaceutical companies Moderna and Sinovac expected to arrive in the months ahead.
BioNTech had said that once removed from the freezer, the vaccine can be stored for up to five days at between 2 deg C and 8 deg C and up to two hours at temperatures up to 30 deg C, prior to use.
The vaccine, which uses new mRNA technology, must be stored at ultra-low temperatures of about minus 70 deg C before being shipped to distribution centres in specially designed cool boxes filled with dry ice.
The remaining NCID staff will be progressively vaccinated, with the rest of the National Healthcare Group management and staff from this month.
Mr Gan said that experts consulted by the Government have recommended that the nation prioritise vaccinations of groups that are most at risk. This is also in line with the guidance issued by the World Health Organisation, he added.
The nation's Covid-19 vaccination drive is kicking off first with healthcare workers and staff working in the healthcare sector as they work in direct care of patients or in supporting roles, he said.
Other front-line and essential personnel will also be among the first to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, Mr Gan said. This includes swabbers hired by the Health Promotion Board, as well as staff working at government quarantine facilities, community care facilities and dedicated stay-home notice facilities.
Mr Gan added that the elderly and those at greater risk of severe disease from the coronavirus will be vaccinated from next month.
This phase will begin with seniors aged 70 and above and those in jobs or settings where the risk of a super-spreading event is high, such as the construction, marine and process sectors, including migrant workers.
"Thereafter, we will progressively broaden our vaccinations to include other Singaporeans and long-term residents who are medically eligible," he said.
Mr Gan added that as more vaccines are approved for use, Singapore will adjust its vaccination programme, depending on vaccine supply and disease epidemiology.
He told the House that the Government had started planning for the Covid-19 vaccination programme "very early on", and that it has in place end-to-end processes to meet the cold-chain logistics requirements.
This includes delivery and receipt of the doses at the airport, storage and transport to vaccination sites so that the quality and efficacy of the vaccines are not compromised.
