Chickenpox, pneumococcal jabs to be free for eligible Singaporean children from 1 Nov

SINGAPORE — From 1 November, eligible Singaporean children will be fully subsidised for vaccinations against chickenpox and pneumococcal diseases, as part of enhanced subsidies for nationally-recommended vaccinations.

In a media release on Monday (13 July), the Ministry of Health (MOH) said that these children will also receive free childhood developmental screening at general practitioner (GP) clinics and polyclinics under the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS).

These are part of MOH’s efforts to better protect Singaporeans from vaccine-preventable diseases and to reduce the risk of outbreaks in the community.

Higher subsidies at CHAS GP clinics

All adult Singaporeans will benefit from higher subsidies of between $35 and $125 for nationally-recommended vaccinations at CHAS GP clinics. They need only to pay the following amounts after government subsidies:

• Eligible Pioneer Generation cardholders: $9 to $16 per vaccination dose.

• Eligible Merdeka Generation, CHAS Blue and Orange cardholders: $18 to $31 per vaccination dose.

• Other eligible adult Singaporeans: $35 to $63 per vaccination dose.

Adult Singaporeans will also receive up to 75 per cent subsidy for National Adult Immunisation Schedule vaccinations at polyclinics. Pioneer Generation and Merdeka Generation seniors will also receive an additional 50 per cent and 25 per cent subsidy from their subsidised vaccination bills respectively.

Prices after these government subsidies are expected to be similar to that at the CHAS GP clinics.

Vaccines added to NCIS

For eligible Singaporean children, they receive full subsidies on a range of recommended vaccinations under the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (NCIS).

From 1 November, MOH will add the following vaccines to the NCIS:

• Two types of varicella-containing vaccines for the prevention of chickenpox;

• Influenza vaccines for target groups of children who are at higher risk of developing influenza-related complications;

• The pneumococcal 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine to protect children with chronic or rare medical conditions who are at high risk of developing severe pneumococcal disease.

Only selected vaccine brands listed on the Subsidised Vaccine List will be eligible for vaccination subsidies. MOH may review the listings periodically, in response to new price proposals from manufacturers, regulatory approval of new vaccines and other changes in global market conditions.

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