Singapore plans ‘immunisation certificates’ for Malaysian cargo drivers

Drivers from across the border who have been fully inoculated in Singapore will be exempt from daily on-arrival tests 14 days after their second dose

The border between Singapore and Malaysia is one of the world’s busiest. Before the pandemic, about 300,000 Malaysians entered Singapore each day

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Travelling back and forth from Singapore has become more difficult for Malaysian drivers during the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: Reuters

Published: 2:45pm, 18 Mar 2021Updated: 6:53pm, 18 Mar 2021

Singapore is poised to issue “immunisation certificates” for Malaysian cargo drivers who have received both doses of the coronavirus vaccine, which experts have described as a precursor to a broader vaccine passport.

Singapore’s trade ministry on Thursday said drivers from across the border who have been fully inoculated in Singapore will be exempt from daily on-arrival tests 14 days after their second dose.

“Cargo drivers and accompanying personnel who have taken both doses of the vaccine in Singapore will receive an SMS acknowledgement that they have completed the vaccination process, as well as an immunisation certificate,” the ministry said. “However, they may continue to be subjected to testing at Singapore’s land checkpoints from time to time.”

Singapore’s health ministry earlier this month said it would extend its progressive vaccination programme to selected cargo drivers and accompanying personnel entering from Malaysia. This will minimise the risk of virus transmission from workers supplying essential goods to Singapore, the ministry said.

As of Monday, about 549,000 residents in the city state have received their first coronavirus jabs. About 243,000 have received their second dose.

The trade ministry on Thursday stressed that drivers who are not vaccinated in Singapore will still be allowed entry but will be subject to border health measures, such as on-arrival tests. All personnel, regardless of vaccination status, will still be required to observe existing safe-management practices, such as performing temperature checks and using Singapore’s contact tracing system.