Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent vaccine expected to be available end of year for those aged 18-49

Pfizer-BioNTech’s bivalent Comirnaty vaccine is expected to be available by the end of this year and an invitation to take it will be sent to those aged 18 to 49. 

Those who are eligible are recommended to take the booster, said Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung in Parliament on Thursday (Oct 20), as the bivalent vaccines provide better protection against newer COVID-19 variants. 

Those who have recently recovered from COVID-19 are recommended to receive the bivalent vaccine three months after the infection. 

Mr Ong was addressing a question posed by Associate Professor Jamus Jerome Lim, Member of Parliament (MP) for Sengkang GRC. 

Mr Ong added that the Government is prioritising those aged 50 and above for the bivalent vaccine as they are at higher risk of severe disease from infection. 

The bivalent vaccine by Moderna, the Spikevax Bivalent Original/Omicron COVID-19 vaccine, was first implemented on Oct 14.

Mr Ong added that the Government is securing more supplies and hopes to secure them “in a matter of weeks”.