Many residents contacted me over the last few months as the Covid-19 vaccination programme was being rolled out with concerns about safety of vaccinations. Many of them did get their first dose of one of the mRNA vaccinations but had adverse reactions that debarred them from their second dose. As a result, these individuals are not considered “fully vaccinated”, which comes with attendant risks to their health and inconveniences when dining out or operating at some workplaces.
To add to the uncertainty, medical advice on vaccinations is continually being updated. Some of those who were previously medically ineligible for the mRNA vaccines can now get them, and there are other non-mRNA vaccines available. This confusion may result in some medically eligible people not getting their shot, resulting in lower immunity from Covid-19.
MOH should offer these individuals a free consultation with an allergist (a medical specialist) to help them choose suitable vaccines to receive based on the latest medical findings and safety data.
This is the subject of a question I filed for the 14 September sitting for Parliament:
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song: To ask the Minister for Health (a) to date, how many individuals have been assessed to have contraindications to COVID-19 mRNA vaccines; and (b) whether these individuals can be provided with a free consultation with an allergist to help them choose suitable vaccines to receive based on the latest medical findings and safety data.
I thank one of my constituents for suggesting this question to me.
