‘The COVID-19 vaccine gives me the assurance that I can safely go home with my children’ – NCID nurse

SINGAPORE: Senior nurse practitioner Mohamed Firdaus works in the intensive care unit of the National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID), caring for seriously ill patients with COVID-19.

The 38-year-old also has four young children at home and worries that he could pass a virus to them.

On Wednesday (December 30), Firdaus became one of the first people in Singapore to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, as the country launched its coronavirus inoculation campaign.

“(The vaccine) gives me the assurance that I can go home safe and sound after caring for COVID-positive patients and playing with my children without feeling any fear that something will happen to them,” Firdaus said, adding that he felt excited and eager to be among the first to get the vaccine.

“I handle COVID-19 patients (who are) quite sick. So, being vaccinated, I feel more confident caring for the patient, ”said Mr. Firdaus.

Adding she had some concerns when the vaccine was first released, the nurse said she was confident in the ability of the Health Sciences Authority to ensure the vaccine is safe as it will be delivered to many in Singapore.

“All Singaporeans should try to get vaccinated because we have to do our part to curb this spread of COVID-19 in Singapore. And I think having confidence in our system that vaccination will be safe for everyone who will receive it. “

NOTE: All COVID-19 Vaccine Eligible People in Singapore Should Get Vaccinated, Says Chair of Expert Committee

“GRATEFUL” FOR RECEIVING THE COVID-19 VACCINE

Singapore began its COVID-19 vaccination exercise on Wednesday, with more than 30 healthcare workers at NCID ready to be the first to receive vaccines.

They are receiving their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by the American pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and the German firm BioNTech. This vaccine requires two injections, 21 days apart. Those who receive the first dose on Wednesday are scheduled to return for their second dose on January 20 of the next year.

Later, the vaccines will be extended to more health institutions. This will be followed by vaccinations for the elderly starting in February. Thereafter, other Singaporeans and long-term residents who are medically eligible for vaccines can do so.

Several of the NCID health workers who received the vaccines on Wednesday said they were “grateful” to be among the first in Singapore to be vaccinated and feel more protected while doing their job.

Senior RN Sarah Lim, who was the first person to get the vaccine Wednesday morning, said the injection felt like an “ant sting” and she didn’t see any side effects after 30 minutes.

“I think I find that I am being responsible, as a nurse, to get vaccinated first, so I can protect others. (For) my patients, providing patient care every day and protecting my family and others, ”he said.

Speaking to reporters shortly after being hit, Ms Lim said she hopes to encourage others, especially other front-line health workers, to get vaccinated as well.

“Being the first, I am very grateful,” she said.

The 46-year-old is stationed in the Special Precaution Area at NCID’s J Clinic, conducting screening for suspected COVID-19 cases. It was a simple process for her to receive the jab, and the nurse gave her the injection asking her to “relax” as she rolled up her sleeves.

READ: NCID nurse becomes first person in Singapore to receive COVID-19 vaccine

“SLIGHTLY EMOTIONAL”

Dr. Kalisvar Marimuthu, a 43-year-old senior consultant handling suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases, was also vaccinated on Wednesday.

He specializes in infectious diseases and infection control and was also involved in managing infection control in community care facilities.

Dr. Marimuthu said he was grateful, lucky and “a little excited” to have been one of the first to receive the vaccine.

“I think the vaccine is potentially a game changer, along with all our masks and physical distancing. For all that, yes, I feel very good ”.

Speaking to NCID reporters, he said he feels more protected with the vaccine.

“Infection prevention control is overlapping prevention and protection. With our masks, hand hygiene, physical distancing and all, this vaccine is probably the last layer of action for all of us. In that sense, now I feel more secure, I feel better and I can do my duty feeling much more secure, ”said Dr. Marimuthu.

“It has been a long journey for us to get here. It has been hard for all of us… We have all lived a year that we never expected. Vaccines were able to bring down pandemics before, so I am hopeful that this vaccine will do the same. “

Before taking the vaccine, Dr. Marimuthu read about the vaccine and its reported side effects, and also answered questions from friends and family about some of the concerns that patients might have before taking the vaccine.

Noting that fever or some pain in the next few hours after taking the vaccine means that the body is creating immunogenicity in the body, he also addressed concerns about the reported anaphylaxis reaction to vaccines.

“It is very rare and I know that anaphylaxis can be easily treated with an injection. I know they are going to monitor me after vaccination, because usually anaphylaxis occurs immediately after vaccination, so it seemed fine to me, “he added.

READ: COVID-19: The government accepts the recommendations of the committee on the vaccine strategy, to begin vaccinating health workers from December 30

Those who received the COVID-19 vaccines on Wednesday were monitored for 30 minutes after receiving the injections.

They were also given a QR code, which they can then use to report any symptoms or side effects they experience after receiving the vaccine to the Health Sciences Authority (HSA).

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