Those who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus may require a third booster shot from February 2022, health minister Ong Ye Kung said on July 8.

The minister's comments were made in response to questions from the public during an Instagram live broadcast.

He had been asked if booster shots can be expected in the near future.

Providing an indication on when that event will occur, he said the Chinese New Year in February next year will be about a year after the national vaccination drive was launched.

"That may be when people would start to take the booster shots," said Ong, who co-chairs the Covid-19 multi-ministry task force.

He added that since the vaccines are effective for between one and two years, boosters may be needed.

These additional jabs are better at fighting against new variants of the coronavirus that may emerge.

Singapore will be required to order more vaccine shots as vaccination continues.

Singapore's goal is to fully vaccinate two-thirds of the population by National Day on Aug. 9.

The MTF co-chairs said a month ago that with Covid-19 becoming endemic around the world, Singapore may have to sustain a comprehensive, multi-year vaccination programme.

Booster shots may be needed in the future to sustain a high level of protection.

More than 2 million people in Singapore have received both doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine by July 6.