SINGAPORE - From Oct 28, members of the public will be able to get their annual flu jabs at three retail pharmacies across the island, as part of a trial to expand influenza vaccination access in the community.

       The vaccinations will initially be available at three pharmacies – Guardian at Nex mall, Unity at Parkway Parade and Watsons at Paragon, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Oct 28.

       The selected retail pharmacies were inspected to ensure they met MOH’s requirements for a safe and conducive environment for vaccination services. Only registered pharmacists who have completed the relevant training are allowed to administer flu jabs at the participating pharmacies.

       Those who receive the vaccines will be observed for 15 minutes after their jabs, with protocols in place for pharmacists to manage and provide advice on potential side effects.

       Noting that the latest influenza vaccine for the Northern Hemisphere season is now available, MOH said receiving annual flu shots lowers the risk of serious complications from the disease, particularly for seniors and the medically vulnerable.

       The jabs are also available at general practitioner (GP) clinics and polyclinics.

       The ministry said that those who have a regular GP, including those who have already enrolled in Healthier SG, are encouraged to get their shots with their primary care provider to ensure continuity of care.

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       Over the next three to six months, MOH will monitor the vaccination uptake and feedback on the initiative. The ministry will also explore how pharmacists can be more involved in a team-based care model with GPs, to provide services such as vaccination, medication counselling and reconciliation, as well as smoking cessation counselling.

       “This will complement the work of GPs and the primary care healthcare team, and allow doctors to manage more complex chronic medical conditions,” the ministry said in a statement.

       About 200 people are expected to get vaccinated as part of the initial phase of the trial.

       The vaccinations are available to those aged 18 and older, except for those with certain conditions, such as a medical history of seizure or serious reactions after any vaccination, as well as a history of Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

       Pregnant women and those with a fever or respiratory infection are also not eligible for the vaccine.

       MOH said that eligible Singapore citizens getting the flu vaccine at a participating pharmacy will receive the same government subsidies they would in visiting a Community Health Assist Scheme or Chas GP clinic.

       Guardian currently has four pharmacists who are qualified to provide vaccinations, while Watsons has three and Unity one.

       All three said they intend to expand these numbers, depending on the response to the trial.

       Unity’s flu shots are priced at $30, while vaccinations at the other two chains are priced at $35.

       While Watsons and Unity do accept walk-ins for the vaccine, all three pharmacies advise that customers make an appointment online on their respective websites to get the jab.

       The initiative was launched on Oct 28 during an event at Unity at Parkway Parade by Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, who also received his flu shot that day.

       Mr Ong pointed out that in other regions, it is common for people to receive their vaccinations at pharmacies, noting that pharmacies were the main delivery mode for Covid-19 shots during the pandemic in many Western countries.

       He noted that while the rate of influenza vaccinations here had been going up, only about 40 per cent of those aged 65 and above – who are more vulnerable – get their jabs.

       Making it easier for them to get their jabs will help increase vaccination rates among seniors and reduce their risk of falling severely ill, Mr Ong said, adding this would in turn reduce the burden on hospitals as Singapore’s population ages.

       The trial, which Mr Ong described as a “small-scale sandbox”, also aims to get GPs and pharmacists – in addition to others such as physiotherapists and social workers – working more closely together as the Republic moves towards community care, he said.

       Polyclinics here typically see an average of more than 2,000 patients daily for acute upper respiratory infections, including influenza.