Singapore Eyes Kids for COVID‑19 Shots
Education Minister Lawrence Wong has been keeping a close eye on new studies that test COVID‑19 vaccine safety and effectiveness in children. The goal? Getting those shots licensed for students before the next school break.
The Current Roll‑Out
Right now, Singapore’s government has cleared vaccines only for people 16 and older. That includes teachers, school staff and other education workers – more than 150,000 of them are already getting jabbed. The Health Ministry explains the strategy is to protect those who spend long hours around kids, even if the vaccines haven’t been certified for anyone under 16 just yet.
Meanwhile, students in health‑care programs—universities, polytechnics, Institutes of Technical Education and private colleges—have received the vaccine since mid‑January. These future doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals do clinical training in real‑world settings where they’re more likely to encounter patients, so the extra protection makes sense.
Wong’s Q&A on Social Media
During a quick Ask Me Anything video, Wong answered several burning questions:
- Will the PSLE change to the new grading system and could homework and exams be done away with?
Answer: The PSLE format stays the same. The grading tweak is just to discourage students from chasing every single mark. Homework and tests remain essential—they’re how we push ourselves and get practice. - Will overseas travel become easier?
Answer: No simple fix right now. It largely depends on how well other countries control the pandemic and how fast vaccination rolls out both here and abroad. If things go smoothly, Wong hopes that by year‑end we might see some travel without a 14‑day quarantine, but we’re still hoping.
What Happens Next?
Wong told his followers that Singapore will “keep our fingers crossed” as the trials on kids roll on. If the safety data looks good, the next step is certification—and then those vaccines could be offered to students who aren’t yet 16.
Bottom Line
Singapore is doing its homework—literally—and watching the science closely. The aim is to bring the COVID‑19 boosters to younger students soon, keeping schools safe and classrooms lively. Stay tuned for updates, and don’t forget to wash your hands, because no amount of politeness can replace the basics!
