I beg to differ with Professor Sattar Bawany's letter expressing regret at Education Minister Lawrence Wong’s comment on those who decline the Covid-19 vaccination when offered because they are still undecided. (“Overcoming the public distrust of vaccines requires engagement and authentic dialogue, Jan 31”) 

Mr Wong, the co-chair of the Government’s Covid-19 task force, had said that these people must “accept the consequences” if they change their minds later, as a ready supply of vaccines may not be available.

Many of my friends and I would prefer that the Government make it compulsory for every citizen to be vaccinated unless one has a valid reason on grounds of health.

The vaccine is a precious commodity and we cannot allow a few individuals to jeopardise the well-being of an entire community.

One has to accept the consequences if they decide not to be vaccinated. The Government cannot wait indefinitely for a minority to make up their mind.

The Government has gone to great lengths to convince the public about the safety of the vaccine.

President Halimah Yacob, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat and Mr Wong had already been vaccinated.

Public officials have even gone house to house to assure the public about the need and the safety of getting vaccinated.

I do not think there are many countries that have gone this far with assuring the public.

Prof Bawany said the public could be concerned about “adverse overseas news reports about the side effects of the vaccines, with people having died after getting the shots” and whether the vaccine has been “appropriately tested” before the authorities here approved it for use.

On the first point, there have been various news reports here on how the Norwegian and European Union regulators have found no direct link between the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and post-vaccination deaths.

In addition, the Government has announced financial assistance to anyone who suffers serious side effects to “give a greater peace of mind for those taking the vaccination”.

On the approval process, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has explained that it had thoroughly reviewed Pfizer-BioNTech’s data to ensure that its vaccine meets Singapore’s required safety, efficacy and quality standards.

The Expert Committee on Covid-19 Vaccination has concurred with HSA after an independent review of the clinical data, while eminent doctors here and worldwide have also explained why the vaccine had been approved in such a short time.

To conclude, Singapore has done an excellent job in tackling the Covid-19 crisis and was recently ranked the second safest country to be in during this pandemic.

In the United States and parts of Europe, many have died unnecessarily because the people prize their individual rights over that of the community.

As a small country without natural resources that depends on our people, we cannot afford to pay such a heavy price.

The rights of the individual must be secondary to the collective good and well-being of the entire community.

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