Well I heard the locals are not pleased with Pfizer Moderna AstraZeneca, but from what I understand, they aren't even considering Chinese vaccines as alternatives.
Is the local media/social media in Singapore having discussions about the efficacy of Chinese vaccines?
Also I believe Singaporeans are also disinterested in Russian vaccines. There seems to be a distrust in Russian products. I don't even think Singaporeans are interested in Russian culture (food, travel etc).
When you say the "locals are not pleased", it really depends on who you talk to.
I believe that as with any country, there will always be people who are staunchly in certain camps and who will not be swayed regardless of what facts are presented. We (Singapore) have our fair share of anti-china or anti-west and even anti-vaxxers and honestly, IMO, their point of view is not one for rational debate.
The pro-west camp will obviously be pleased with Pfizer/Modena
The pro-China camp will never be pleased with Pfizer/Modena.
The anti-vaxxers, lolz, nothing will please them.
Singapore sits in a crossroads of political influences, between east and west, between pro-China and anti-China influences. Whilst our media is largely western derived and the lemmings are pro-west, there's also quite a fair bit of us who are educated enough in our world view to know the truth lies somewhere in between those 2 camps and we've largely tried to the take the best that both have to offer.
wrt vaccines, the larger issue at stake for Singaporeans is the potential for the local and international community to move towards a reopening of society via a form of "vaccine" passport. Those of you in bigger countries don't realise what it's like to be locked in a city for going on 18 months and more now.
Singapore is so geographically small that it seriously induces cabin fever on a country-wide scale. On any long weekend, traffic visibly goes down by at least a quarter as a significant portion of the population drives/flies out for a weekend getaway in surrounding countries. The need to stretch the legs is palpable. Add onto that the nature of the Singapore economy being dependent on non-domestic trade, the importance of any future "vaccine passport" looms large in the mind of lots.
As such;
The issue isn't one of efficacy. Any vaccine will do if it gets us on the green lane.
The issue also isn't really one of China vs western vs Russian vaccine. Any vaccine will do if it gets us on the green lane.
The issue boils down to one of vaccine tech and perceived safety. mRNA new tech vs deactivated vaccine old (and safe) tech.
We need to be vaccinated to burst out of this little red dot when the gates are opened but we don't like it that we have no choice but to submit ourselves to only mRNA vaccines with no mid-long term track record. We especially don't like it that we are now being asked to vaccinate our school going children with mRNA vaccines.
I personally know some, normally anti-China people, who are actually upset they can't get the China vaccine (because it's the only safe-tech vaccine around).
Note: Just a few days ago, the Singapore govt approved the use of J&J, AZ and Sinopharm/Sinovac vaccines through the private health care sector under a Special Access Route (SAR) program. It is at own cost and own risk and any adverse effects are not covered by govt insurance for the govt vaccine program using Pfizer/Modena. More of concern, they have also not yet confirmed that vaccinations obtained under the SAR program will be recognised for eligible for the same exemptions on testing, or public health restrictions, which may be accorded to individuals vaccinated under our national programme. Which kinds of defeats the purpose really ...
