Everything About the Flu Vaccine You Are Probably Keen to Know Now

By
Kacey Tan
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The unexpected passing of Taiwan showbiz icon Barbie Hsu has taken the region by storm.

For the benefit of those living under a rock, her death was confirmed by her younger sister, Dee Hsu, on 3 February 2025.

Apparent by the immense number of online searches surrounding this, the cause of Barbie Hsu’s passing–the seemingly harmless influenza virus–has left many netizens and fans in shock.

How can the flu have enough power to kill someone?

“Aiya, Its Just The Flu”

Just a bit of fever, runny nose, and sore throat…nothing a little Panadol and Zyrtec cannot solve.

Well, that is, only if you are lucky.

Contrary to popular belief, flu symptoms cannot always be relieved easily with a quick trip to your nearest GP, or some extra hours of sleep.

The influenza virus can at times cause severe complications including but not limited to heart inflammation (myocarditis), brain inflammation (encephalitis) and lung inflammation (pneumonia).

Furthermore, the flu virus is the epitome of an un-kill-able cockroach (or maybe that’s more like your annoying younger sibling)–it is constantly mutating and changing, allowing it to escape your immune system.

“Huh…So What now?”

Such severe symptoms caused by the influenza virus can be avoided with the flu vaccination.

If you are worried about what exactly would be injected into your body during the vaccination (no, it’s not government trackers or poison), here’s a quick crash course on how it works.

The flu vaccine contains a weakened version of the Influenza virus.

Reader: wait what? So I would be purposely injecting the virus into my body? Are you trying to kill me?

Before you go on coming up with more conspiracy theories, hear me out.

The weakened virus itself usually will not cause serious illness.

It carries structures unique to the influenza virus called antigens. When the body’s immune system detect these antigens, the production of antibodies unique to the virus is stimulated.

Next, maybe an uncle with the flu at the coffee shop sneezes without covering his mouth, right into your face (free shower I guess!).

The actual influenza virus enters your body and infects your cells. However, with the vaccine, your body is now better equipped to destroy the virus, since antibodies specific to the virus are already present in the body.

As a result, the symptoms you experience will not be as severe.

Mai Sng Sng; Don’t Play Play

Even if you are young at heart, and lead a relatively healthy lifestyle, the influenza virus can affect anybody.

Because of how rapidly the flu virus mutates, according to the Ministry of Health, it is recommended to take the flue vaccination annually or twice per year, so as to maintain our immunity towards the virus.

For parents of young children to take note: young children aged six months to eight years old who are receiving the flu vaccine for the first time require two doses, four weeks apart.

For not-so-young children to take note: do encourage your elderly relatives and parents to take the flue vaccine, as they are at a higher risk of serious illness and death from influenza.

Individuals with medical conditions such as immunodeficiencies, asthma, or chronic illnesses are also recommended to take the vaccine regularly as there is a higher chance that the flu could develop into something much more serious.

In general, this vaccine does not cause serious side effects, other than the usual slight fever, headache, and soreness at the injection site–nothing paracetamol cannot relieve, and the perfect excuse to take an MC for (sorry boss, I am just kidding).

However, if you:

  • have any particular drug allergies
  • have a severe allergy to eggs
  • have a history of Guillain-Barré Syndrome

do inform and verify with your healthcare professional before proceeding with the vaccination.

Costs of The Vaccination

Of course, how can we not talk about the money? Lucky for us, many individuals are eligible for flu vaccine subsidies.

Free money from the government: who don’t like?

For Singapore Citizens enrolled with HealthierSG:

  • individuals aged 65 years old and above
  • OR individuals with certain medical conditions that make them more vulnerable to the flu

are able to receive fully subsidised vaccinations, in other words, for $0.

For Singapore Citizens not enrolled with HealthierSG, individuals will be able to receive the vaccination at CHAS GP clinics for:

  • Pioneer Generation card holders – $9
  • Merdeka Generation card holders (after 65th birthday) – $18
  • CHAS blue/orange card holders with certain medical conditions – $18
  • CHAS green/non-CHAS card holders with certain medical conditions – $35
  • 6-59 months old – $0 (at polyclinics as well)

For other Singapore Citizens with no particular medical conditions: the price of the vaccine will vary from clinic to clinic.

For Permanent Residents:

  • subsidies will only be available for the recommended age group or those with certain medical conditions at polyclinics

Medisave can be used to cover an out-of-pocket expenses for the flu vaccine.

For more information, you can visit the official Ministry of Health website here.

If you watch at least 10 minutes of brain rot content daily, you must know this:

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Kacey Tan