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SINGAPORE: The seven insurers offering Integrated Shield Plans are expanding coverage to include hospitalization resulting from the complications of COVID-19 vaccination, the Life Insurance Association of Singapore (LIA Singapore) announced on Monday (January 25).
Coverage applies to Integrated Shield Plan policyholders who receive Health Sciences Authority (HSA) approved vaccines and are vaccinated in Singapore. The coverage will be provided until December 31 this year, although LIA Singapore said extensions will be considered depending on how the situation develops.
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“This effort is in support of the nation’s measures to protect the community and allow Singapore to return to normalcy,” LIA Singapore said in a press release.
LIA Singapore President Khor Hock Seng said the expanded coverage will offer peace of mind as Singapore’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign continues.
“The life insurance industry fully supports the government’s efforts to encourage as many Singaporeans as possible to take the COVID-19 vaccine,” he said. “This proactive commitment from our members will give Singaporeans peace of mind that adverse effects of the vaccine resulting in hospitalization will be covered.”
Integrated Shield plans are made up of two components: MediShield Life administered by the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board and an additional component of private insurance coverage administered by insurance companies. The latter covers hospitalization in type A and B1 wards of public and private hospitals.
Insurers that offer Integrated Shield plans are: AIA, Aviva, AXA, Great Eastern Life, NTUC Income, Prudential, and Raffles Health Insurance.
READ: COVID-19 insurance is now available for travelers visiting Singapore
The Ministry of Health (MOH) website lists several common COVID-19 vaccine side effects that have been reported, which are similar to the side effects of other vaccines. These include pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site, fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, tiredness, and swollen lymph nodes.
These side effects generally resolve within 3 days with rest or the use of paracetamol.
In very rare cases, the vaccine can cause a severe allergic reaction, with symptoms such as difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, throat, eyes, or lips; a fast heartbeat; and dizziness, according to the website of the Ministry of Health.
The ministry advises those experiencing these symptoms to seek medical attention immediately.
The Health Ministry will also introduce a financial assistance program for vaccine injuries in the near future, the ministry said on its website, adding that MediShield Life is claimable for complications related to vaccination.
