COVID-19 Vaccination Recommendations for 2025/2026
24 October 2025 | Vaccinations | MOH Cir 67/2025
Summary
1. Background
MOH Expert Committee on Immunisation (ECI) has reviewed COVID-19 vaccination landscape for 2025/2026. Recommendations remain unchanged from 2024/2025 strategy. Key update: Available COVID-19 vaccines will be updated to target LP.8.1 variant, which demonstrates better antibody responses against recently circulating strains compared to earlier versions.
2. COVID-19 Vaccination Recommendations 2025/2026
- Policy: Recommendations UNCHANGED from 2024/2025 (targeted approach for high-risk groups only)
- Target Groups for Vaccination:
- Individuals aged 60 years and above
- Medically vulnerable individuals (any age with specified conditions)
- Healthcare workers and frontline workers
- Individuals in high-risk congregate settings
- Rationale: Locally, COVID-19 cases remain stable with low severity in healthy general population; vaccination benefit highest in high-risk groups
3. Updated LP.8.1 Vaccine Profile
- Vaccine Strains: LP.8.1 Pfizer/Comirnaty and Moderna/Spikevax replacing earlier versions
- LP.8.1 Advantages: Studies show better antibody responses against recently circulating strains compared to older vaccine versions
- Monovalent Design: LP.8.1 is monovalent (single antigen), not bivalent
- Availability: LP.8.1 vaccines rolled out progressively for 2025/2026 campaign
- Duration: Campaign runs throughout 2025/2026 period
4. Clinical Implications
- Updated vaccines expected to provide improved protection against LP.8.1-like strains
- Safety profiles expected comparable to previous COVID-19 vaccines
- Eligibility criteria for groups remain consistent with prior years
- Vaccination timing coordinated with influenza and other immunisation schedules
5. Action for Your Practice
- Identify and maintain list of eligible patients (60+, medically vulnerable, healthcare workers)
- Stock updated LP.8.1 vaccines as they become available
- Counsel eligible patients on updated vaccine benefits
- Document which vaccine strain administered (LP.8.1)
- Continue targeted approach; do not routinely vaccinate general low-risk population
- Coordinate with influenza vaccination campaigns for patients aged 60+ and medically vulnerable
- Keep updated on vaccine supply rollout schedule
6. Key Points for Patients
Target vaccination to those who benefit most; low-risk individuals do not routinely need vaccination unless significant occupational exposure risk.
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𝟭. 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱
MOH Expert Committee on Immunisation (ECI) has reviewed COVID-19 vaccination landscape for 2025/2026. Recommendations remain unchanged from 2024/2025 strategy. Key update: Available COVID-19 vaccines will be updated to target LP.8.1 variant, which demonstrates better antibody responses against recently circulating strains compared to earlier versions.
𝟮. 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗜𝗗-𝟭𝟵 𝗩𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱/𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
• Policy: Recommendations UNCHANGED from 2024/2025 (targeted approach for high-risk groups only) • Target Groups for Vaccination: • Individuals aged 60 years and above • Medically vulnerable individuals (any age with specified conditions) • Healthcare workers and frontline workers • Individuals in high-risk congregate settings • Rationale: Locally, COVID-19 cases remain stable with low severity...
𝟯. 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗣.𝟴.𝟭 𝗩𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲
• Vaccine Strains: LP.8.1 Pfizer/Comirnaty and Moderna/Spikevax replacing earlier versions • LP.8.1 Advantages: Studies show better antibody responses against recently circulating strains compared to older vaccine versions • Monovalent Design: LP.8.1 is monovalent (single antigen), not bivalent • Availability: LP.8.1 vaccines rolled out progressively for 2025/2026 campaign • Duration: Campaign runs throughout 2025/2026 period
𝟰. 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
• Updated vaccines expected to provide improved protection against LP.8.1-like strains • Safety profiles expected comparable to previous COVID-19 vaccines • Eligibility criteria for groups remain consistent with prior years • Vaccination timing coordinated with influenza and other immunisation schedules
Documents
Circular
- MOH Cir 67_2025 COVID-19 Vaccination Recommendations for 2025_2026 and the Updated LP.8.1 COVID-.pdf