Over 10,000 maritime frontliners in Singapore to get vaccinated by end Jan

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  • COVID-19 vaccination program to prioritize port workers, harbor pilots, cargo officers, marine surveyors, marine superintendents, harborcraft and ocean-going crew, long-term residents of the community
  • Frontline maritime personnel who have completed their full course of vaccination will be subjected to fewer testing requirements

More than 10,000 frontline maritime personnel in Singapore are expected to be vaccinated for COVID-19 by end-January as the country becomes one of the first countries to prioritize COVID-19 vaccinations for maritime workers.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on January 18 said this vaccination exercise is part of the national COVID-19 vaccination strategy to protect frontline personnel and their family members, as well as residents living in Singapore.

These frontline personnel include port workers, harbor pilots, cargo officers, marine surveyors and marine superintendents who are required to work on board ships in Singapore’s port. They carry out essential works including navigation, refueling, ship repair and maintenance, and cargo transfers.

Singaporean harborcraft and ocean-going crew and long-term residents living in the community are also prioritized for vaccination.

“Together, these personnel play a major role in keeping the Port of Singapore open and ensuring the undisrupted flow of goods,” said MPA.

Under the Sea-Air Vaccination Exercise, more than 700 personnel have been vaccinated over the past few days to prepare for the full vaccination rollout.

Due to the better protection offered by vaccination, frontline maritime personnel who have completed their full course of vaccination will be subjected to fewer testing requirements.

“Going forward, those who are currently on the 7-day Rostered Routine Testing (RRT) will be tested every 14 days; those who are currently on the 14-day RRT will be tested once a month,” MPA said.

Photo by Sam Moqadam on Unsplash