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SINGAPORE: Four cases of anaphylaxis have been reported in people who received the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, State Health Minister Janil Puthucheary said in Parliament on Monday (February 1) in Parliament.
This is one more than the number reported last week when the Ministry of Health (MOH) gave an update on the COVID-19 vaccination program in Singapore.
Dr. Puthucheary was answering parliamentary questions posed by 12 members of Parliament who had asked for an update on the progress of vaccination, as well as the side effects that people have encountered to date.
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Of the more than 155,000 people who have received at least the first injection of the two-dose vaccine, four cases of anaphylaxis or the rapid onset of severe allergic reactions were reported.
The individuals, ages 20 to 30, developed rashes, shortness of breath, lip swelling, throat tightness and dizziness, he said. The symptoms were “caught and treated quickly” and all have recovered, Dr. Puthucheary said.
“One was under observation for a few hours while the others were discharged from the hospital after a day of observation or treatment. None needed support in the ICU,” he added.
Three of them had a history of allergies, including allergic rhinitis and allergies to foods, such as shellfish, but none had a history of anaphylaxis that would have prevented them from receiving the vaccine.
INCIDENCE RATE
The incidence rate of anaphylaxis here is approximately 2.6 per 100,000 doses of vaccine administered. By contrast, reported incidence rates abroad are around 1 to 2 per 100,000 doses, after millions of people have received their injections.
Variations in the incidence rate are expected initially when the number of vaccinated in Singapore to date is small compared to other countries, he said.
“Currently, the benefits of getting vaccinated to protect against the effects of severe COVID-19 disease and its complications far outweigh the risk of any potential adverse events known to be associated with vaccination,” said Dr. Puthucheary.
“We will continue to closely monitor the safety of the vaccine and ensure that the vaccines used in Singapore are safe for our population groups.”
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The minister said that, as with other vaccines, people who receive the COVID-19 vaccine may experience pain and swelling at the injection site, fever, headache, fatigue and body aches, which usually disappear in a few days.
Singapore begins its COVID-19 vaccination exercise for seniors at the Tanjong Pagar Community Center on January 27, 2021. (Photo: Jeremy Long)
Explaining the vaccination process, Dr. Puthucheary said that everyone must go through a screening process at the vaccination site before being vaccinated.
Each person will have to declare their relevant medical conditions according to the vaccination evaluation form provided. A final check on the suitability and fitness of the individual for vaccination will be carried out by a trained health personnel at the vaccination center or polyclinic.
“These personnel will have on-site access to an individual’s prominent medical history in the National Electronic Medical Records if necessary, before the individual is allowed to vaccinate,” he said.
PHYSICIANS SHOULD REVIEW ELDERLY MEDICAL RECORDS CAREFULLY
The Health Ministry will continue to offer the COVID-19 vaccine to older people, said Dr. Puthucheary in response to a question from MP Dennis Tan (WP-Hougang) about the reported deaths of elderly patients in Norway after taking the Pfizer vaccine. .
Norwegian health authorities and the World Health Organization’s Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety have found no evidence that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine contributes to an increased risk of death in the elderly, Dr. Puthucheary said.
“It is important to vaccinate and protect the elderly, as COVID-19 infection in the elderly has been observed to cause serious or fatal illness,” he said.
But he added that the Health Ministry has reiterated to vaccination providers that doctors should review the medical history of older people to confirm that they are suitable for vaccination and that they should be closely monitored immediately after vaccination.
Vaccination for the elderly began last week with pilots in Tanjong Pagar and Ang Mo Kio.
READ: Singapore starts vaccinating older people against COVID-19 with pilot exercises in Tanjong Pagar, Ang Mo Kio
CALL THE MOH HOTLINE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS
In response to a question from NCMP Hazel Poa (PSP) about whether a COVID-19 vaccination counseling service can be provided, Dr. Puthucheary said members of the public can call the Ministry’s COVID-19 hotline. of Health if they have any medical questions. They can also consult their family doctor.
“They will be able to advise any individual on vaccine-related inquiries, including assessing their specific individual suitability for vaccines,” he said.
The COVID-19 Vaccination Expert Committee has recommended that pregnant women, children under the age of 16, or those with a history of anaphylaxis or severe allergies should not take the vaccine at this stage.
People who are unwell or who have had a fever in the past 24 hours are also advised to postpone vaccination until they have recovered.
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