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SINGAPORE – Among the more than 113,000 people who received their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) had received 432 “adverse event reports” from healthcare professionals as of Wednesday (May 27). January), said the Ministry of Health (MINSA).
In a statement Thursday night, the Health Ministry said most of those reports concerned symptoms generally associated with all vaccines and that most resolved on their own within a few days.
These include pain and swelling at the injection site, fever, headache, fatigue, body aches, dizziness, nausea, and allergic reactions such as itching, rash, swelling of the eyes or lips.
Three reported cases of anaphylaxis, or rapid onset of severe allergic reactions, recovered and were discharged from the hospital after a day of observation or treatment, the Health Ministry said.
The three people, who are in their 20s and 30s, developed multiple symptoms including a rash, shortness of breath, lip swelling, throat tightness and dizziness.
All three had a history of allergies, including allergic rhinitis and allergies to foods, such as shellfish, but none had a history of anaphylaxis, which would have prevented them from receiving the vaccine, the Health Ministry said.
“As all vaccinated people in Singapore are closely monitored, symptoms in these three people were detected and treated immediately,” he added.
The Health Ministry said that the incidence rate of anaphylaxis in Singapore is about 2.7 per 100,000 doses administered.
This compares with a rate of about one to two per 100,000 doses administered abroad, over millions of doses of vaccines.
“Initially, variations in the incidence rate are expected as the number of people vaccinated in Singapore to date is relatively small.”
More than 113,000 people received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, and more than 50 people also received their second dose of the vaccine and completed the full vaccination regimen.
“These numbers are expected to increase substantially in the coming weeks as we continue to scale up our vaccination operations safely,” the Health Ministry said.
To help those who develop serious side effects, the Ministry of Health also released details of a financial assistance program for vaccine injuries.
It will include a one-time payment of up to $ 10,000 for those who were hospitalized with serious side effects and required intensive care or high dependency unit care.
It will also provide a one-time payment of $ 225,000 to a person who died or suffered a serious permanent disability as a result of the Covid-19 vaccination.
Individuals must be Singapore citizens, permanent residents, or long-term pass holders who have received the Covid-19 vaccine in Singapore to qualify for the program.
They must also have experienced a serious side effect that could be life-threatening or fatal, requiring hospitalization or causing persistent disability or disability.
Serious side effects will be evaluated by a doctor to relate to the individual’s Covid-19 vaccination, the Health Ministry said.
“Since the severity of serious side effects can be wide and the evaluation of treating physicians can vary, the Ministry of Health has appointed an independent clinical panel composed of experts in relevant fields such as neurology, immunology and infectious diseases, to evaluate and award (the program) applications “.
In Thursday’s update, the Health Ministry also said that more vaccination centers will be established in the coming weeks, which will be located in high-population catchment areas or on main public transportation routes for greater accessibility.
In total, there will be around 40 vaccination centers, with each center planned for an estimated capacity of 2,000 vaccinations per day.
A new vaccination center at the Tanjong Pagar Community Center will be established from January 27, while another at the Teck Ghee Community Center will also be operational from February 1, to support vaccination of the elderly.
In addition to the vaccination centers, polyclinics and selected Public Health Preparation Clinics (PHPC) will also serve as vaccination sites, the Health Ministry said.
Currently, older people can already be vaccinated in nine polyclinics and 21 PHPCs. By February 1, all 20 Singapore polyclinics will begin offering Covid-19 vaccines. These areas will be accessible for wheelchairs.
Mobile vaccination teams will be set up to deliver vaccines to elderly people with mobility problems who find it difficult to visit a vaccination site, the Health Ministry said.
As of Wednesday, the ministry has sent letters to more than 10,000 seniors in Ang Mo Kio and Tanjong Pagar, and more than a third of them have booked their appointments within two days of receiving the invitation.
Seniors remaining in these areas will receive their invitation letters next week.
Personalized letters inviting seniors to sign up for their vaccination will be phased out to all seniors in Singapore from mid-February.
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