Ong Ye Kung Responds to WhatsApp Messages That Mislead Others About Vaccinated COVID-19 Patients in ICU

WhatsApp. 

It’s the place where you first told your crush you like them, where you receive annoying messages from your boss after work hours, and where you converse solely in gifs with your BFF.

But it’s also the perfect medium for misinformation.

With the ability to forward a message at a few taps of your thumbs to hundreds of people, a lie or rumour could easily spread throughout a community within a few minutes.

And when the authorities deem this misinformation to be overtly misleading, they will usually step in to say something.

Ong Ye Kung Responds to WhatsApp Messages That Mislead Others About Vaccinated COVID-19 Patients in ICU

You may have received WhatsApp messages recently about the number of fully vaccinated COVID-19 cases in the intensive care unit (ICU).

These viral messages call for the Ministry of Health (MOH) to “come clean” as to why 40% of ICU beds are occupied by fully vaccinated COVID-19 cases when they’re supposed to be protected from severe illness.

The implication here is that since 40% of ICU cases are fully vaccinated, that means vaccines don’t work.

But as Health Minister Ong Ye Kung pointed out, this isn’t the case.

“I think such selective quoting of data — 40 per cent of ICU beds occupied by vaccinated individuals, therefore vaccines don’t work — I think this is selective use of data to mislead people. And it’s a disservice to people,” he said in a press conference given by the COVID-19 taskforce yesterday (23 Oct).

The viral messages called for transparency on the part of MOH, but Mr Ong said it’s less about transparency and more about the “right application of maths”.

“As I’ve said before, if the whole or 100% of our population is vaccinated, every single ICU case, every single death case will be vaccinated. It doesn’t mean vaccines don’t work. What you need to look at is the incidence rate, what is the base,” he said.

He pointed out that unvaccinated seniors accounted for two-thirds of occupancy in ICUs and deaths over the last 28 days even though they make up just 1.5% of the country’s population.

“So do get yourself vaccinated, and be careful of misleading WhatsApp messages and poor maths.”

Debunking myths and roasting people’s mathematical skills. Savage. 

Sinovac Included Under National Vaccination Programme 

Speaking of vaccines, it’s announced yesterday that Sinovac has finally joined Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech in Singapore’s National Vaccination Programme after getting approval from the authorities.

This is to cater to those who are unable or unwilling to receive mRNA vaccines.

This means that it’ll be administered for free (even without any consultation fee), and included under the Vaccine Injury Financial Assistance programme.

However, those who took the Sinovac vaccine before the approval was given and paid for it themselves will not be reimbursed.

Individuals who have already received two doses of the Sinovac vaccine are encouraged to take a third dose for optimal protection. The third dose should be taken 90 days after the second.

Head here for information.

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• 9 Important Updates to Know About 23 Oct’s COVID-19 Press Conference

Featured Image: YouTube (CNA)