Singapore wants WHO recognition to help accelerate vaccine approvals during future global health emergencies.
Singapore is seeking a larger role in global pandemic preparedness by strengthening its vaccine regulatory capabilities, expanding manufacturing capacity, and supporting faster international responses when new outbreaks emerge.
Singapore Wants to Join Global Regulatory Network
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said Singapore wants to help the World Health Organization speed up vaccine approvals during future global health crises by joining a network of trusted regulators. Under the proposal, regulators such as Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority, or HSA, could share regulatory workloads with WHO instead of requiring the organization to handle every assessment independently. Ong outlined the proposal ahead of a UN General Assembly high-level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response in New York on September 25.
HSA Targets Highest Vaccine Regulatory Level
HSA is already the first national authority assessed by WHO at Maturity Level 4 for medical device regulation and is a WHO-listed authority for medicines. Singapore has not yet reached that level for vaccines, however. Ong said HSA intends to work toward the corresponding WHO benchmarking and listing for vaccines so Singapore could eventually participate in faster emergency vaccine approvals while maintaining safety and quality standards.
Early Pathogen Detection Remains Another Priority
Singapore is also emphasizing early disease surveillance alongside vaccine regulation. The country contributes genomic information to GISAID, which allows scientists and governments to share pathogen data internationally, while much of GISAID’s data is processed in Singapore by A*STAR. Ong cited Singapore’s detection of a novel SARS-CoV-2 recombinant in July through routine surveillance as an example of why timely and transparent reporting remains important.
Vaccine Manufacturing Capacity Expands
Ong said Singapore’s pandemic strategy also includes building domestic vaccine-manufacturing capabilities and supporting the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations’ mission to develop safe, effective and accessible vaccines. Singapore has attracted several flexible production facilities capable of producing mRNA vaccines, while its broader approach is designed to complement global preparedness efforts under the WHO Pandemic Agreement and efforts to build sustainable regional vaccine-manufacturing resilience.
Experts Stress Trust and Preparedness
A report by the PRIME Commission, established by the National University of Singapore and The Lancet, highlighted vaccine access and public trust as important elements of pandemic readiness. Report co-author Teo Yik Ying said Singapore should remain vigilant between outbreaks and continue monitoring misinformation about vaccines, arguing that effective preparedness also depends on communication and coordination among communities, media organizations, and policymakers.
For Singaporeans, the proposal could strengthen the country’s role in vaccine regulation, disease surveillance, and emergency preparedness if HSA achieves the required WHO recognition. For Indonesians, Singapore’s effort is relevant within the wider regional push to improve access to vaccines and strengthen preparedness for future outbreaks across Asia.
Sources: Straits Times (2026) , The Star (2026)
Keywords: Singapore Vaccine Approval, WHO Vaccine Regulation, Pandemic Preparedness Singapore, Health Sciences Authority, Disease X, Vaccine Manufacturing
