SINGAPORE — New enlistees in National Service and operationally ready national servicemen (NSmen) who are more likely to face intense physical activity will not need to take part in strenuous activities for two weeks after their mRNA Covid-19 vaccine dose.

The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said on Thursday (July 15) that this was a precautionary measure.

Responding to TODAY’s queries, Mindef said: “In line with the national recommendation, Mindef and the Singapore Armed Forces have managed the activities of our personnel so that they do not perform strenuous activities for at least one week after receiving their first and second mRNA Covid-19 dose.

“For new enlistees and NSmen, who are more likely to face a significant step-up in physical activity intensity due to their transition from civilian to military life, a two-week period without strenuous activities will be implemented after their mRNA Covid-19 vaccine dose in abundance of caution."

The Covid-19 mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) vaccines under voluntary national vaccination exercise are the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has earlier called on individuals to avoid strenuous activities after getting both their first and second Covid-19 jabs. 

The range of activities include swimming, cycling, lifting heavy weights and playing ball and racket games. Competitive sports and physical education were also listed in the advisory.

This is due to the small but statistically significant risk of myocarditis and pericarditis, types of heart inflammation, observed after vaccination with both the first and second mRNA vaccines, the Government’s expert committee for Covid-19 vaccination said on July 5.

The Ministry of Education said, too, that schools and institutes of higher learning have been excusing students from physical activity for one week after receiving their first and second dose of the vaccines since late June, when schools reopened after the mid-year holidays.