Singapore — Lawyer Lim Tean voiced criticism of the government’s Covid-19 vaccination policy in a Facebook post on Jan 18, stating his strong support for those who choose not to or are unable to get vaccinated.
Singapore — In a Facebook post on Jan 18, lawyer and People’s Voice party leader Lim Tean criticized the PAP government’s Covid-19 vaccination policy, expressing his solidarity with those who opt not to vaccinate or are unable to do so.
Mr. Lim, who confirmed that he is fully vaccinated with Sinovac and received a booster shot last month, highlighted his concern over the lack of transparency regarding vaccine-related information, which he said is easily accessible online. He referenced “various reports from credible sources” discussing the potential side effects of vaccines.
While Mr. Lim did not specify a particular vaccine, it is likely his concerns are focused on the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines, the first to receive emergency approval in Singapore. Sinovac, which uses traditional inactivated viral particles, is the only other approved vaccine in the country.
However, multiple studies conducted through clinical trials and real-world data have consistently shown that mRNA vaccines, with a reported efficacy rate of around 95 percent, provide better and more durable protection against Covid-19. Sinovac’s effectiveness, by comparison, has been found to range between 51 and 80 percent.
It has also been widely reported that China, the producer of Sinovac, is working to develop its own mRNA vaccine in response to the surge in Covid-19 cases driven by the highly transmissible Omicron variant.
According to Mr. Lim, the PAP government’s strategy aims to vaccinate the population quickly and reopen the economy as fast as possible, describing it as “living with the enemy virus.” He argued that this approach is reckless and warned that the Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL) program could lead to future disasters.
“The signs point to another massive wave of infections soon,” Mr. Lim wrote, adding that these waves could be avoided if not for the government’s push to make the virus endemic.
He also criticized the government’s push for booster shots, citing a recent report from Israel indicating that the fourth Covid-19 vaccine dose may not be highly effective against the Omicron variant.
Instead of promoting boosters, Mr. Lim advocated for restricting foreign travelers from entering Singapore, arguing that the high number of imported cases, mostly from fully vaccinated individuals, is “inexcusable.”
Additionally, he emphasized the importance of boosting natural immunity by encouraging healthier lifestyles, such as proper nutrition and sleep. However, he noted that this is difficult in Singapore, where rising costs of living—driven by increases in utility, transport, and GST—pose significant challenges.
Last month, Mr. Lim announced that he was spearheading a legal challenge against government policies that he believes unfairly discriminate against the unvaccinated.
