Not All Foreign Residents In Singapore Can Get Free COVID-19 Vaccine

JAKARTA - Singapore offers the COVID-19 vaccine to all its citizens and long term residents in Singapore. This was conveyed by the Prime Minister (PM) of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong yesterday 14 December. But the question is, what kind of foreigner can get this privilege?

According to the explanation on the official website of the Singapore immigration authority, Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), long-term foreign residents who have the potential to receive the free vaccine refer to residents who have permanent resident (PR) status. That status is second only to Singapore citizens.

Foreign citizens with PR status do have the privileges, obligations and responsibilities of Singapore citizens. For their obligations, some PR citizens are obliged to join the National Service (waived for most adult men but not boys) and compulsory contributions to the Singapore Central Provident Fund.

As for their rights, holders of PR status in the Lion Country are allowed to live, work, study and retire in Singapore indefinitely. But these PR residents have no right to vote or hold public office, receive public benefits and housing, are given lower priority for public school placement, and some restrictions on driving.

Meanwhile, these PR residents also cannot just leave Singapore for a long time for whatever reason. Because they are subject to Re-Entry Permit (REP) requirements. If they leave the country without a REP permit or stay outside until their permit expires, automatically, their PR status is null and void. ICA generally renews REP for 5 years or depending on the individual applying for the permit.

Meanwhile, the requirements to get RP status are not arbitrary. They are spouses and / or children (under 21 years old and unmarried) of individuals who are Singapore citizens or holders of PR status.

In addition, the elderly parents and legal guardians of Singapore citizens also have the right to have homework. Foreign workers, students studying in Singapore, as well as investors and employers also have the right to register as PR.

Foreigners who have PR status can also change their citizenship to become Singapore citizens. The requirement is that he has had PR status for at least two years and is 21 years of age and over, but he can apply for it together with his spouse and children who are not married and under 21 years of age. Two-year PR status holders who are married to Singapore citizens can also change their citizenship to become Singapore citizens.

Looking at the explanation above, it is not surprising that long-term foreign residents in Singapore also have the same rights as Singaporean citizens. So that those who get certain rights are not ordinary foreigners. For example, people who go on vacation to Singapore do not necessarily get the free COVID-19 vaccine from the Singapore government.

A larger number of vaccines will be available in the coming months. The Prime Minister also added that if all goes according to plan, Singapore will have enough vaccines for all citizens by the third quarter of 2021.

PM Lee also said the government had been working to secure a vaccine for Singaporeans since the beginning of the pandemic, launching The Straits Times. He noted that while more than 200 vaccine candidates are being developed, not all will be successful.

"We started talking to pharmaceutical companies early to understand the science, and identify promising candidates and vaccines that are likely to be produced soon," said PM Lee.

Singapore has set aside more than S $ 1 billion for vaccines and has signed advance purchase agreements and prepayments for the most promising vaccine candidates, including Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Sinovac.

The Lion Country has also entered into agreements with pharmaceutical companies to facilitate their clinical trials and drug development in Singapore and attract some people to build up vaccine manufacturing capabilities.