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From shortlisting promising candidates to negotiations: How Singapore procured its first COVID-19 vaccine shipment Toggle share menu
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From shortlisting promising candidates to negotiations: How Singapore procured its first COVID-19 vaccine shipment
The arrival of the first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines in Singapore has been a long time coming. Deborah Wong meets the teams involved to get a better understanding of the ins and outs of the process. 2 related media assets (image or videos) available. Click to see the gallery.
22 Dec 2020 11:15PM) Share this content
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SINGAPORE: When Singapore’s first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech touched down at Changi Airport on Monday (Dec 21), the relief on the tarmac was palpable.
This was even though some solutions were as novel as the pathogen itself - some vaccine candidates were being developed with new technologies that have not been used in any other vaccines on the market.
The data was limited, so risks had to be taken and bets made after careful analysis of available information. They all paid off on Monday night (Dec 21), when Singapore became the first nation in Asia to receive doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. This, just weeks after Britain and the United States received theirs.
Professor Benjamin Seet, who oversees the expert panel that provides the Singapore Government with advice on Covid-19 therapeutics and vaccines, said during a press conference on Monday that advance purchase agreements hinged upon many factors, including safety and availability.
The Straits Times
How Singapore took steps to ensure access to Covid-19 vaccines
Singapore s first batch of Covid-19 vaccines being unloaded at the Sats Coolport cold chain facility at Changi Airport on Monday night.PHOTO: MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION
Among those who helped Singapore procure Covid-19 vaccines are (from left) Associate Professor Tan Say Beng, executive director of National Medical Research Council; Ms Goh Wan Yee, senior vice-president and head of healthcare and wellness strategy at EDB; Professor Benjamin Seet, deputy group chief executive for education and research at National Healthcare Group; and Dr Lisa Ooi Ann Gee, vice-president of healthcare and wellness strategy at EDB. ST PHOTO: TIMOTHY DAVID