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SINGAPORE – The Ministry of Health (MOH) facilitated the Covid-19 vaccination guidelines last week, paving the way for cancer patients and those with allergies to receive the injections.
Announcing the move in a circular addressed to Singaporean doctors last Friday (March 12), the Health Ministry said it follows local and international clinical reports on the safety of mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccines.
The ministry had previously advised people with multiple allergies to defer receiving mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccines, which include the Singapore-approved Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines.
The Straits Times addresses some of the frequently asked questions about the change.
Q: Can I get vaccinated if I have allergies?
TO: Yes, unless you have a history or risk of anaphylaxis, allergic reactions to other vaccines, or certain serious reactions to medications.
A person with anaphylaxis, a type of life-threatening reaction, will experience at least two of these symptoms: difficulty breathing, dizziness, hives, or swelling of the face, eyelids, lips, or throat.
Those at risk for anaphylaxis include people who have a history of being prescribed an epinephrine autoinjector, also known as an epi-pen.
[[nid:521194]]Those who have had allergic reactions to other vaccines should also not receive mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccines for now, the Health Ministry said.
Instead, they should postpone vaccination and consult an allergist, a physician trained to handle allergies, to review its suitability.
People who should not receive the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines also include those with a history of Steven-Johnsons syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, drug eruption with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms, and drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome.
Meanwhile, people with a family history of anaphylaxis, but who have never experienced the reaction, can get the vaccine.
Those who have atopy, which includes eczema and asthma, can also get vaccinated.
Q: Can I get my second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna Covid-19 vaccine if I had an allergic reaction to a previous dose?
[[nid:519205]]TO: No. Those who experience reactions that indicate or suggest allergies to Covid-19 vaccines based on mRNA or any of its components should not receive their second injection.
This includes people who develop anaphylaxis after the first dose.
People who develop hives, also known as hives, or angioedema with onset of symptoms within seven days after vaccination, are also prone to allergies.
Others with generalized maculopapular rashes, erythema multiforme, or bullous lesions within seven days of vaccination should also not receive their second dose.
Q: Which cancer patients can be vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine?
TO: People with cancer who do not receive chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy can be vaccinated.
This refers to patients who have not received any treatment in the last three months and do not have a planned treatment in the next two months.
People on hormone therapy for cancer or who have a history of cancer and are in remission can also get vaccinated.
For the latest updates on the coronavirus, visit here.
This article was first published in The times of the strait. Permission is required for reproduction.
