Trucks to roam heartlands with recorded messages urging seniors to get Covid-19 vaccine

Each truck will also have an emcee who will deliver additional messages about vaccination.

Nigel Chua | August 07, 2021, 11:40 AM

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Two mobile publicity trucks broadcasting recorded messages about vaccination will be deployed in heartland locations in the next two weeks (from Aug. 6 to Aug. 20, excluding the National Day public holiday on Aug. 9)

These "#IGotMyShot trucks" are part of a new pilot initiative by the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) to increase awareness and remind seniors to get vaccinated.

Seniors urged to visit Mobile Vaccination Teams

The trucks are the latest move from the government to encourage unvaccinated seniors to get vaccinated, even as Singapore moves toward transitioning to living with Covid-19 as an endemic disease.

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said recently that "vaccinations are key to this transition".

MCI said in a statement on Aug. 7 that the pilot is being rolled out in support of Mobile Vaccination Teams (MVTs).

The trucks will broadcast recorded messages, and have an emcee on board to deliver additional messages such as the specific location of the MVTs and their operating hours.

Photo via MCI.

There will also be posters on Digital Display Panels informing residents of the MVT.

This is to urge seniors to visit the MVTs and get vaccinated, said MCI.

Ong said in a Facebook post today (Aug. 7) that the trucks "are a hark back to the kampung days".

However, he recognised that the trucks "may disturb some residents", and he sought the understanding of the public.

A Facebook post about the initiative by Temasek CEO Ho Ching states that the rooftops of the trucks will also display the operating hours of the MVTs.

What the recorded message says

Here's the English transcript of the recorded message that the trucks will use:

"Hello uncles and aunties! Have you gotten your vaccination?

Right now we have mobile vaccination teams especially for you, and you can go to them at nearby CCs and RCs at HDB blocks for your COVID vaccination.

If you are 60 years old and above, you are more vulnerable to COVID. And if you are not vaccinated, you may require oxygen support if you are infected, or even end up in the ICU.

Please get vaccinated today to protect yourself, your family, your friends and neighbours. The mobile vaccination team is just around the corner. Come down today!"

Similar messages will also be broadcast in Mandarin, Malay, Tamil, and in "selected dialects".

The trucks will visit areas such as Woodlands, Yishun, Bukit Merah, Hougang, Sengkang, Bedok, Tampines, and Jurong West, and will coincide with MOH’s deployment plans for the MVTs.

They will be deployed from Aug. 6 to Aug. 20, excluding the National Day public holiday on Aug. 9.

"Seniors are encouraged to get their vaccination as soon as possible," said MCI, emphasising that unvaccinated seniors are at high risk of being infected and also higher risk of being seriously ill.

Other vaccination-related initiatives

Top image via MCI

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