KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 – Malaysians who received Sinovac’s Covid-19 vaccine must get a booster shot to be able to travel to Singapore from April 1 without quarantining on arrival, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said today.
This is because the Singaporean government considers full vaccination for primed Sinovac recipients to be three vaccine doses, Khairy said, citing a discussion that he had with Singapore’s Health Minister Ong Ye Kung here yesterday.
“So, if you want to enjoy your trip to Singapore, no quarantine, then you know what to do,” Khairy told a press conference today.
He added that about 2.09 million primed Sinovac recipients in Malaysia have not yet received their third dose.
Based on the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) projections, about two million Sinovac recipients may lose their fully vaccinated status on MySejahtera on April 1. Those who received Sinovac primary vaccination, as well as senior citizens aged 60 years and older, must get a booster jab to retain their fully vaccinated status from April 1.
From April 1, all fully vaccinated travellers will be able to enter Singapore quarantine-free via any flight. Singapore recognises Malaysia’s digital Covid-19 vaccination cert on the MySejahtera app.
Singapore’s Ministry of Health requires residents in the country who had received two Sinovac or Sinopharm doses to get a third vaccine dose – either an mRNA shot or the same vaccine as their primary series – to maintain their fully vaccinated status.
Singapore’s Safe Travel website states that travellers who received two Sinovac doses, at least 13 days apart, are considered fully vaccinated for entry into Singapore.
Travellers who were vaccinated outside Singapore will be granted temporary vaccinated status lasting about 30 days. A temporary status of 180 days will be granted for those who applied for a Vaccinated Travel Pass that is required for short-term visitors or work permit holders under the Vaccinated Travel Lane.
Travellers who entered Singapore with Sinovac or Sinopharm vaccination – who wish to have their vaccination records put in Singapore’s National Immunisation Registry beyond their temporary vaccinated status period – must get at least three vaccine doses if they want to be eligible for vaccination-differentiated measures beyond four months from the date of their second dose.
Travellers will be considered fully vaccinated immediately after their third vaccination dose (i.e. they do not have to wait for 14 days to be considered fully vaccinated after their third dose).
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said in a joint statement earlier today that fully vaccinated travellers would be able to cross the Malaysia-Singapore land border starting April 1 without needing to undergo quarantine on arrival, or pre-departure and on-arrival Covid-19 testing.
