Starting November 7, individuals in Singapore aged 18 to 49 will be invited to receive the bivalent vaccine booster as part of ongoing efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. Those in their 40s will be the first to receive SMS invitations with personalized booking links for appointments at joint testing and vaccination centers, according to the Ministry of Health (MOH).

The bivalent vaccine, Moderna’s Spikevax, targets both the original Sars-CoV-2 strain and the Omicron variant. The rollout follows the recent infection surge driven by the Omicron XBB variant, although MOH reports that the current wave is subsiding. Despite this, MOH warns that new variants could emerge, especially with international travel resuming.

MOH encourages all individuals aged 18 and above to stay up to date with their vaccinations, advising those whose last doses were more than five months ago to receive the bivalent booster. The ministry also emphasizes three key strategies to defend against the virus: staying updated on vaccinations, regular self-testing, and practicing good hygiene.

To support self-testing, each household will receive 12 antigen rapid test (ART) kits starting November 21 in the fourth round of national distributions. MOH urges the public to be patient, as some households may receive their kits later due to the high volume of deliveries during the holiday season.