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Oral Answer by Second Minister for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng to PQ on Vaccine Rollout for Migrant Workers

Foreign manpower
NOTICE PAPER NO. 237 OF 2021 FOR THE SITTING ON 01 FEB 2021 
QUESTION NO. 600 FOR ORAL ANSWER 

MP: Mr Leon Perera 

To ask the Minister for Manpower (a) what is the timeline of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout for migrant workers; and (b) what measures will be taken to educate migrant workers so as to encourage the uptake of vaccines. 

Answer: 

1. As part of the national COVID-19 vaccination strategy to protect all Singaporeans citizens and long-term pass holders living in Singapore, vaccination will be made available to migrant workers. The communal living and working conditions of migrant workers in dormitories puts them at higher risk of infection and the formation of large clusters. 

2. MOM is working out the schedule and details with MOH, depending on the delivery schedule for vaccines. We will make an announcement when ready. I can share that the vaccination efforts will be accompanied by a comprehensive communication campaign to inform migrant workers of the safety and benefits of the vaccine. The common side effects and risks of allergic reactions will also be explained. Communication with the migrant workers will be done through videos, pamphlets and booklets in their native languages. 

3. Vaccination of the migrant workers helps to reduce the viral load, which in turn lowers the overall risk and helps protect our wider community from an outbreak. This will also reduce the potential load on our healthcare workers and facilities.