PROF WEI SHEN LIM

CHAIR OF JOINT COMMITTEE ON VACCINATION AND IMMUNISATION COVID-19 VACCINE SUB-COMMITTEE

We are currently using social distancing measures to try to suppress the virus. If we can replace the protection of social distancing by vaccines, and let’s say a vaccine allowed so much protection that it was like a full lockdown, then one could say, ‘Well, I’ve got a vaccine. I don’t need to have quite so many social distancing measures in place’ and that will take us closer to normal. Whether or not we can get back to the full normal obviously will depend on how much vaccine is available, when it’s used, how it is used and so on.

We need to make sure we help people understand how important it is to have the vaccine. The vaccine will be offered first to vulnerable people.

There is good reason to have the vaccine.

My advice is, when offered the vaccine, don’t wait three weeks before having it.