SINGAPORE — Singapore's Covid 19 vaccination rate has risen to 96 percent of the eligible population, and authorities are now racing ahead to administer booster shots because of concerns over the omicron variant.
The health ministry of the city-state, which has the highest rates of vaccination, said late on Tuesday that it had updated the official vaccination rate to account for a small drop in the population.
The ministry said that 96 percent of the eligible population had completed the full vaccination regimen as of this week, and had completed the full vaccine regimen as of the week's end, up from 94 percent. That translates to about 86 percent of the total population of about 5.5 million.
82 percent of the total population had been fully vaccinated against the virus about two months ago.
Singapore had barred unvaccinated people from entering shopping malls from mid-October, and authorities said they will tighten rules from Jan. 1, including allowing vaccinated individuals to enter workplaces.
The country has given boosters to 26 percent of the population.
Singapore hasn't detected any cases of omicron yet.
On Tuesday, it said two travelers from Johannesburg who had tested positive for the coronavirus variant in Sydney had passed through Changi Airport.