Singapore Close to Vaccinating All Eligible People against COVID-19

Singapore's COVID-19 vaccination rate has risen to 96 per cent of the eligible population and authorities are now racing ahead to administer booster shots amid concerns over the Omicron variant, reports Reuters.

The health ministry of the city-state, which has among the highest vaccination rates in the world, said late on Tuesday that it had updated the official vaccination rate to account for a small drop in the population.

As of November 29, 96 per cent of the eligible population had completed the full vaccination regimen, updated from 94 per cent, the ministry said. That translates to about 86 per cent of the total population of about 5.5 million.

About two months ago, 82 per cent of the total population had been fully vaccinated against the virus.

Singapore had barred unvaccinated people from entering shopping malls from mid-October, and authorities have said they will further tighten rules from January 1, including only allowing vaccinated individuals to enter workplaces.

The country has administered boosters to 26 per cent of the population.

Singapore has not detected any cases of Omicron yet.

On Tuesday, it said that two travellers from Johannesburg who tested positive for the coronavirus variant in Sydney had transited through Changi airport.