REACH 340 - What are your views on the steps taken by the Government in ensuring future pandemic preparedness in Singapore and the region? How confident are you that Singapore can manage future pandemic situations even better?
(SK)
22 Apr 2022 (10am - 7pm)
REACH
[9:43 am, 22/04/2022] +REACH: Dear Contributors,
Welcome back! ๐
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Megan ๐
[9:59 am, 22/04/2022] +REACH: ๐ข Topic ๐ข
Sanofi, a French pharmaceutical giant, is investing $638 million to set up a vaccine production plant in Singapore. This will allow Singapore to pivot quickly to make new vaccines that might be needed to combat future pandemics. While the COVID-19 Omicron wave has receded, new variants of concern could still emerge.
๐ฌ What are your views on the steps taken by the Government in ensuring future pandemic preparedness in Singapore and the region? How confident are you that Singapore can manage future pandemic situations even better?
"By enhancing our capacity for manufacturing vaccines in Singapore, the region will be in a stronger position for dealing with future pandemics and the ensuing economic shocks.” said DPM Heng Swee Keat on Wed (Apr 20).
This is "as opposed to the recent experience, where Singapore had to compete globally and probably at great expense for early access to and a continuous supply of Covid-19 vaccines", said Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang, an infectious diseases expert at the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.
The set-up will allow the company to quickly switch to a new vaccine in the event of a pandemic, as opposed to having to build a new facility.
The production plant is targeted to be at full production by the end of 2025 and is expected to create 200 jobs in Singapore, and it will churn out vaccines to be used in Asia.
๐ https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/vaccine-manufacturingsanofi-tuas-heng-swee-keat-2635301
๐ https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/pharma-giant-sanofi-breaks-ground-on-638m-vaccine-facility-in-singapore
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[10:20 am, 22/04/2022] +Smiley face: "Planning, Paving And Paying Ahead (่ถ ๅ้จ็ฝฒ)..."
[10:56 am, 22/04/2022] +Smiley face: https://www.adb.org/outlook
[10:58 am, 22/04/2022] +Smiley face: https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO
[10:59 am, 22/04/2022] +Smiley face: https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/global-economic-prospects
[11:04 am, 22/04/2022] +Smiley face: Asia-Pacific shares slide; Fed's Powell hints at 50 basis point hike ahead
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/22/asia-markets-federal-reserve-jerome-powell-us-treasury-yields-currencies-oil.html?__source=androidappshare
[0:04 pm, 22/04/2022] +REACH: Dear Contributors
We want to hear more from you on today's topic!
We have had good feedback and hope that we can keep the discussion robust and active!
Megan ๐
[0:16 pm, 22/04/2022] +BL: Love this story - a real success. Good for Singapore, good for the region. Double thumbs up!
[1:41 pm, 22/04/2022] +REACH: Dear Contributors
We want to hear MORE from you on today's topic!
We have had good feedback and hope that we can keep the discussion robust and active!
Megan ๐
[1:49 pm, 22/04/2022] +Uncle Law: No one can predict the future or what kind of pandemic we will face.
I would wish the government to have sufficient resources in terms of logistics and monies, and with reference to past experiences to be more prepare in terms of rolling out policies, support packages and etc
[1:49 pm, 22/04/2022] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Our pitfall experience in the covid pandemic
1. Future pandemics, Disease X is always a possbility - and covid pandemic pose difficulties to us on a few front :-
a. As covid vaccine production is overseas
- priorities are accorded to the hosting country. We will have to queue behind to access the vaccines.
- We have to compete with many Countries to get the vaccines early - hence we will have to implement more draconian measures such as very expensive lockdown that strangle our Economy, Business and Jobs - as we wait for the vaccines to come.
- We may have to pay a higher price to secure the vaccines.
- Hence our overall cost in tackling pandemic is higher.
2. As many Countries lockdown to prevent the spread of covid pandemic onto their shores - the global supply chain are adversely impacted - and delivery of vaccines are also affected.
a. What is worst that vaccines have validity period - the longer the delay due to disruption - more people will get infected, and the vaccine need to be dispense quickly else the vaccines will expire.
b. Also vaccines need special cooling requirement, and this will increase the cost of cooling - that translate to higher cost of acquiring the vaccines.
3. Thus it is imperative that we need to prevent similar pitfall - to safeguard our public health -in case future pandemic, covid variants, Disease X strike - and prevent another expensive $100 billion draw down to prop up our Economy.
[2:10 pm, 22/04/2022] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Flexible, Adaptive Advanced Vaccine Manufacturing
1. This French Sanofi pharmaceutical production plant inherit all the hallmark of a "Flexible, Adaptive Advanced Vaccine Manufacturing" - that can ramp up mass production of 4 types of vaccines quickly (with 4 modular production line).
2. The catch is :-
a. R&D of effective, tested and approved vaccines must be achieved first (not sure if vaccine R&D come with this vaccine manufacturing plant or is at offshore?)
b. Raw material that need to manufacture the vaccines must also be available in Singapore - else if worldwide disruption due to lockdown happens again - the vaccine manufacturing plant cannot begin mass production.
3. However if all 2a and b - is not a hurdle - then Sanofi production facilities will put us in forefront in fast mass production of vaccine to tackle a breakout of covidvariants, current flu-based virus and Disease X --- especially if based on mRNA techology that can decode and encode virus gene quickly and develop the relevant vaccines to curb the spread and infection of the respective virus.
The manufacture of mRNA vaccine to tackle the traditional covid, the variant Delta, Omicron - by tweaking the mRNA in double quick time - display flexible, adaptive vaccine Manufacturing is possible.
Hence Sanofi production plant ---- is a valuable gift to Singapore - and will boost Singapore as an Advanced Vaccine Manufacturing Hub - that can supply advanced vaccines to tackle future pandemics and Disease X - to safeguard Singapore public health, but at the same time able to supply and distribute vaccines in quick time to our regional Countries to safeguard region public health.
Bear in mind, unless our regional neighors and the Global Countries population are safe - else no one in the World will be safe - as virus can spread by people Countries to Countries, Continent to Continent.
[2:15 pm, 22/04/2022] +BL: It's a good news story and a big investment into Singapore - not sure what feedback you are looking for?
[2:32 pm, 22/04/2022] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Boosting Singapore Pharmaceutical Sector, contribute to our GDP
1. Also, other than French Sanofi, there are other Vaccine production investors coming on board such as German BioNTech - also come with mRNA production capabilities that not only produce covid vaccines but also other mRNA vaccines to tackle cancer, flu etc -----
This effectively is making Singapore a "Vaccine Manufacturing Hub", knowledge transfer of vaccines production to our Medical Sectors, safeguarding our Public Health, extending and deepening our Pharmaceutial Sector capabilities in advanced vaccine production notably the versatile mRNA medical technology.
2. The sales of covid vaccines notably mRNA bring multi-billion revenue and profit runs into billions of dollars for the few manufacturing plants - notably Pfizer, BioNTech, Moderna etc.
3. This in turn contribute to higher GDP to the hosting Countries, boost manufacturing, that trigger many supporting industrial sectors business activities and jobs for eg. :-
a. Supply of raw materials
b. Logistics
c. Air freight, Sea freight
d. Finance
e. Transport
f. Jobs - production plant operators, engineers, pharmaceutical specialists, cooperation with Hospital pandemic specialists for knowledge transfer, pilot testing, and access to approved vaccines to protect our population.
4. The contribution of the pharmaceutical sector to our GDP growth is quite phenomenal.
5. It will also help to boost our export sector - as the approved effective vaccines - can be exported to regional Countries - further boosting our Balance of Payments through export.
6. In effect, vaccine production can be seen in the light of a new economic sector like the Green Sustainability Sector - that bring new capabilities, new business, new jobs and new revenue that can contribute "meatily" to our National coffers.
[2:43 pm, 22/04/2022] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Instability in Europe, Providing an alternative pharmaceutial hub in Asia - Singapore is the best candidate
1. Ukraine war - for the 1st time make EU continent a war risk. Business and investors in EU is increasingly facing existential risk.
2. Large manufacturing plants, large investor in EU - will have to spread their risk elsewhere - an Singapore is a good "safe heaven" - political stable, financial hub, logistic hub, ready talents, good infrastructure, supportive business environment to attract such high end investment into Singapore and creating jobs for Singapore.
[2:44 pm, 22/04/2022] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/biden-hosts-military-chiefs-ukraine-crisis-intensifies-2636021 Look like Russia-Ukraine war could escalate into a Russia-NATO war.
[2:48 pm, 22/04/2022] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Mr Xi warned that economic "de-coupling" and pressure tactics such as severing supply chains would not work. Hmmm........ "decoupling" . He copy my line ..... hahahaha...... https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/chinas-xi-says-unilateral-sanctions-wont-work
[3:43 pm, 22/04/2022] +REACH: Dear Contributors
We want to hear MORE from you on today's topic!
We have had good feedback and hope that we can keep the discussion robust and active!
Megan ๐
[3:45 pm, 22/04/2022] +Riviere Condo: Good for singapore. As we got a base that produce what the south east Asia need.
[4:34 pm, 22/04/2022] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/china-official-impersonation-scam-retiree-lost-savings-1-million-2640781?cid=internal_sharetool_androidphone_22042022_cna
[4:43 pm, 22/04/2022] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
My close friend comments:-
Whether it is about vaccines or other manufacturing investments.
It is always good news to know Singapore is expanding it's capabilities.
In this pandemic, south Korea could bid for contract manufacturing of vaccines ahead of Singapore.
If we remember correctly, Mordena invested in Skorea.
[6:05 pm, 22/04/2022] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
CNA 6pm news - Russia look beyond Ukraine after consolidating southern and eastern Ukraine.
Increasing likely Russia -NATO confrontation.
[6:49 pm, 22/04/2022] +REACH: ⏩ No more Covid-19 tests for vaccinated travellers entering Singapore from April 26
More: https://str.sg/w8fY
⏩ Singapore to lower Dorscon level from orange to yellow from April 26
More: https://str.sg/w8fg
⏩ S'pore-Malaysia cross-border public bus and taxi services to resume from May 1
More: https://str.sg/w8fQ
⏩ No limit on group size, masks not mandatory at workplaces as Singapore eases most Covid-19 rules
More: https://str.sg/w8fA
⏩ Beware future Covid-19 variants and other risks as Singapore opens up further: Ong Ye Kung
More: https://str.sg/w8fM
⏩ TraceTogether no longer required in most settings from April 26
More: https://str.sg/w8fP
[7:04 pm, 22/04/2022] +Dan: I welcome the latest updates with anticipation. The light at the end of tunnel finally.
[7:05 pm, 22/04/2022] +Rama: Yes
[7:19 pm, 22/04/2022] +Gcml: ๐๐ผ
[7:47 pm, 22/04/2022] +REACH: ➡️ People aged 60 to 79 can take second Covid-19 vaccine booster if they wish to
More: https://str.sg/w8fb
[8:15 pm, 22/04/2022] +REACH: Dear Contributors,
⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰
Thank you very much for being part of our WhatsApp chat and participating actively.
Goodnight!
Megan
[8:25 pm, 22/04/2022] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Will still wear masks - as the current infection cases still hover around 3000 to 4000 cases.
[8:27 pm, 22/04/2022] +XaniceAfcai: ๐๐๐
Not only protect oneself but also one own families and loves ones.
I will still wear mask(my mask still have a lot to clear๐คญ). Cos my family n I'm not mutant yet.
[8:28 pm, 22/04/2022] +Smiley face: What if the US interest rates stacking towards 200 (150-175?) basis points by 2023 Q2? What's the short & long debts/loans becoming, cross referencing to G7, G20 and Opec+?
A new dynamic, unprecedented, no playbook to read into. A big resetting of economics (social + political), uncertain scenarios + consequences and competitiveness of nations between regional (intra) & global (inter)?
Stacks of Complexity in motion (pull-push) -
What's the short/mid/long term of domestic debts, balance of payments , M supply, FXs & CXs, assets valuation, depth of deficit, cost of goods & services, FDIs, liquidity trap/ratio? Any other variables?
[8:30 pm, 22/04/2022] +REACH: Dear Contributors,
We will be closing the chat for today.
Thank you very much for being part of our WhatsApp chat and participating actively.
Goodnight!
Megan ๐
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