The National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (NCIS) comprises childhood vaccinations recommended as the standard of care for protection against vaccine preventable diseases that are of significant healthcare burden to Singapore or would be so without these vaccinations. Currently, the NCIS covers vaccinations against 12 diseases – tuberculosis, hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliovirus, Haemophilus influenzae type b, measles, mumps, rubella, pneumococcal disease and human papillomavirus.
Inclusion of varicella, influenza and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines into the NCIS
From 1 November 2020, the following vaccines will be added to the NCIS to better protect children against various vaccine-preventable diseases:
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Two types of varicella-containing vaccines will be available for the prevention of chickenpox: combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine; and monovalent varicella vaccine.
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Influenza vaccines for target groups of children who are at higher risk of developing influenza-related complications.
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The pneumococcal 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine will be included to protect children with chronic or rare medical conditions who are at high risk of developing severe pneumococcal disease caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. This is in addition to the existing pneumococcal conjugate vaccines currently recommended for all young children.
Subsidy framework for vaccination in the NCIS:
From 1 November 2020, Singaporean children will receive full subsidy for all NCIS vaccinations where the vaccine utilised is found on the Subsidised Vaccine List (SVL) at CHAS GP clinics.
Use of Medisave for vaccination in the NAIS:
The use of MediSave is already allowed for all vaccinations in the NCIS today. From 1 November 2020, this will include the varicella-containing and Tdap-IPV vaccines that will be added to the NCIS. All claims for NCIS-related vaccinations administered in outpatient settings should be made under the MediSave500 scheme. The prevailing MediSave rules will continue to apply to any co-payments after the application of subsidies. As a reminder, MediSave cannot be used for vaccinations administered in the inpatient setting, other than for those administered to newborns as part of the delivery episode.
