[ The Independent ] Singapore recovery stalled by 100k seniors who won’t get jabs

Theindependent

Singapore – Who’s to blame for Singapore’s “stalled” recovery from Covid-19? Why, it’s the fault of some 100,000 senior citizens whoi are holding out and refusing to get vaccinated. That’s according to an Oct 21 report in The Age , a newspaper in Melbourne, Australia.

Chris Barnett, the South-east Asia correspondent for  The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, said this when he reported  the extension of strict social curbs here until next month which was announced by Singapore’s Multi-Ministry Task Force (MTF) on Wednesday.

“Now, though, after setting the standard in the region with its COVID-19 immunisation drive, vaccine hesitancy is playing a key role in holding Singapore back,” he wrote, adding,

Singapore has seen record-high new infections and deaths this week, and the MTF warned that these increases are puitting the healthcare system under great stress, began so many more Covid patients need treatment, and many need intensive care.

With more than 100 seniors testing positive daily, the corresponding rise in those needing hospital care make it more likely that Singapore’s resources being  overwhelmed.

The report quotes Health Minister Ong Ye Kung saying that  unvaccinated seniors make up two out of three of the Covid-19 patients  dying. “For the unvaccinated seniors in their 60s, our data shows one in four will require oxygen, ICU care or will succumb,” he said,

The report cites a Singapore Management University study in June that nearly four out of five people fear vacination’s  side effects, and one in four  have no faith in vaccines in general.

According to Mr Arv Sreedhar, the managing director of corporate finance at asset management firm Atlantic Partners Asia, “While other countries and financial capitals are leaving COVID behind to open up and stick to it, my opinion is that Singapore appears to be stuck in an infinite loop of fear, lockdowns and rhetoric that defy both medical advice and common sense.” /TISG

DPA Notes: Unfortunately, this is the reality Singapore faces, as the possibility of not able to provide ICU or hospital beds to covid patients is unimaginable for the Singapore leadership as well as for the people of Singapore whom are already used to the high standard of governance.

Any lapse or failure can be catastrophic for the ruling party. Its a fine line to thread.