In case you’ve missed it, Singapore has approved its first Covid-19 vaccine for use in Singapore: the Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine.
However, both experts and the multi-ministry task force warn that it’s not a “magical cure-all” medicine for the entire country.
Here’s why.
Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine
Earlier in Nov 2020, Pfizer revealed that their newly developed Covid-19 vaccine was 90% effective in a large-scale clinical trial of a coronavirus vaccine.
Shortly after, both the US Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and UK approved the vaccine for use in their countries.
On 14 Dec 2020, PM Lee has two pieces of exciting news for people in Singapore in his live national address.
The first is the start of Phase 3, which will kick off on 28 Dec 2020.
The second is that Singapore has approved the use of the Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine in Singapore and that it’ll be free for all Singaporeans.
However, just because it’s free for all Singaporeans doesn’t mean everyone should take it yet.
These Are the People Who Shouldn’t Take the COVID-19 Vaccine (Yet)
Not everyone should take the vaccine the moment it becomes available, the Expert Committee on Covid-19 Vaccination, a body set up to oversee vaccine strategy in Singapore, said.
According to the committee, the following groups should adopt a wait-and-see approach even if the Covid-19 vaccine is available in Singapore:
- Pregnant ladies
- Children under 16 years old
- People with immuno-compromised conditions
The recommendation by the committee was made because currently, there isn’t enough data on the “safety and efficacy” of the vaccine on these groups.
It was added by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) that people with a history of anaphylaxis (rapid onset of allergic reaction) should not take the vaccine yet as well.
The UK, which has already begun Covid-19 vaccinations with the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine, issued a warning against people with anaphylaxis taking the vaccine.
The advisory comes after two people reported adverse effects on the first day of the mass vaccination.
On the other hand, the committee mentioned that priority groups like healthcare workers, frontline workers and the elderly should have the vaccine first.
The committee added that it’ll come up with a complete set of recommendations in the following weeks.
When Will Pfizer BioNTech Be Available
The first batch of the Covid-19 vaccine will be arriving in Singapore by the end of the month.
It’s estimated that by the third quarter of 2021, there will be enough Covid-19 vaccines available for every Singaporean in Singapore (though it’s likely a mixture of other Covid-19 vaccines).
For the Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, every individual needs to be administered with two doses 21 days apart.
It was added that the vaccine has a 95% efficacy rate.
Possible Side Effects
HSA listed down a few possible side effects when the vaccine is administered.
They include:
- pain, redness, swelling at the injection site
- fatigue
- headache
- muscle ache
- fever
- chills
- vomiting
- diarrhoea
- joint pain after vaccination
These are normal, HSA assures, and the side effects usually resolve by itself in a few days.
For those who experience severe allergic reactions like swelling around the eyes and mouth, have difficulty breathing or is wheezing, see a doctor immediately.
Optional
There are people out there who might not want to take the Covid-19 vaccine.
After all, it’s pretty new and untested.
Although the recommendation is for everyone (who is medically able) to be vaccinated, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said that they’ll respect the “people’s choice”.
Director of Medical Services Kenneth Mak added that while the vaccine’s profile and side effects are still being studied, it’s prudent for the government to make recommendations instead of forcing people into taking it.
It was added that the government has to match people with different medical conditions to different types of vaccines to ensure their safety.
Safe Distancing Measures Here To Stay
I know what you’re thinking: no more masks?!
Unfortunately, even after the Covid-19 vaccine is here and administered, safe distancing measures like mask-wearing must continue.
Minister Gan explains that they are still studying where someone who is vaccinated will be able to transmit the coronavirus to others.
“We have to be quite careful with the idea of vaccination. Currently, vaccination protects the person who is vaccinated and the evidence of whether it has protection against transmission from the person who is vaccinated to another person, the evidence is still being studied so we do not have clear evidence of that yet.
“So we cannot assume that once you’re vaccinated therefore you’re not likely to transmit (the virus) to any other person and you can take off your mask and do whatever you want.”
Think of it like dengue; the mosquito is fine but it will infect you if it carries the disease.
However, as the situation develops, the task force will adjust the safe-distancing measures appropriately, he added.
Featured Image: Ascannio / Shutterstock.com
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