Free chickenpox and pneumococcal jabs for eligible Singaporean children to be included in enhanced subsidies from MOH

Vaccinations against chickenpox and pneumococcal disease among others, as well as childhood developmental screening will be made free for eligible Singaporean children at all Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) General Practitioner (GP) clinics and polyclinics from November 1, 2020.

This comes as part of enhanced subsidies for nationally-recommended vaccinations “to better protect Singaporeans from vaccine-preventable diseases and to reduce the risk of outbreaks in the community,” the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a press release on 13 July. 

Enhanced vaccination subsidies for eligible Singaporean children from Nov 1, 2020

The enhanced subsides include those recommended under the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (NCIS) and National Adult Immunisation Schedule (NAIS). 

Under the enhanced subsidies, eligible Singaporean children need not pay for vaccinations listed under the NCIS that are recommended from birth to age 17 years.

This includes vaccinations against pneumococcal disease — which are currently chargeable — and vaccinations against chickenpox, which are not currently on the NCIS.

Here are the vaccines that will be added to the NCIS with effect from November 1, 2020:

• Two types of varicella-containing vaccines to prevent chickenpox
  • Combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine
  • Monovalent varicella vaccine
• Influenza vaccines for target groups of children who are at higher risk of developing influenza-related complications
• The Pneumococcal 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine to protect children with chronic or rare medical conditions who are at high risk of developing severe pneumococcal disease caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. This is in addition to the existing pneumococcal conjugate vaccines currently recommended for all young children.  

Apart from free vaccinations listed under the NCIS, eligible Singaporean children will also get full subsidy for the seven childhood developmental screening milestones at CHAS GP clinics and polyclinics, according to MOH. 

Enhanced subsidies also available to adults with fee caps

Adult Singaporeans too, can benefit from higher subsidies of between $35 to $125 for vaccinations recommended under the National Adult Immunisation Schedule (NAIS) from November 1, 2020.  

According to MOH, only selected vaccine brands listed on the Subsidised Vaccine List (SVL) will be eligible for vaccination subsidies. MOH may review the listings periodically.

Here are the fee caps at CHAS GP clinics:

After subsidies, eligible Singaporeans can expect to pay the following maximum amounts:

• Eligible Singaporean children: $0
• Eligible Pioneer Generation cardholders: capped at $9 to $16 per vaccination dose 
• Eligible Merdeka Generation, CHAS Blue and Orange cardholders: capped at $18 to $31 per vaccination dose
• Other eligible adult Singaporeans: capped at $35 to $63 per vaccination dose 

Here are the subsidies for polyclinics:

• Eligible Adult Singaporeans: receive up to 75per cent subsidy for NAIS vaccinations at polyclinics.
• Eligible Pioneer Generation and Merdeka Generation seniors: receive an additional 50per cent and 25per cent subsidy from their subsidised vaccination bills respectively.

According to MOH, the prices after government subsidies are expected to be similar to that at the CHAS GP clinics.

The ministry also encouraged individuals to make advance appointments for vaccinations with their preferred clinics before visiting them.

This article was first published in theAsianparent.