Updated 5 May 2022: First shipment of Novavax Covid-19 vaccine arrives in Singapore
Novavax's Nuvaxovid is a protein-based, or protein-subunit, vaccine. PHOTO: REUTERS
The first batch of the Covid-19 vaccine developed by American biotechnology company Novavax arrived in Singapore on Wednesday (May 4), and will be offered at 21 locations here by the end of the month.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Wednesday night that the Nuvaxovid vaccine will be offered at its first joint testing and vaccination centre at the former Bishan Park Secondary School, as well as 20 Public Health Preparedness Clinics (PHPCs) at the end of May. Nuvaxovid is a protein-based, or protein-subunit, vaccine.
Vaccines based on mRNA technology, such as the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty and Moderna jabs, use material from the virus to teach the body’s cells to make copies of a protein unique to the virus, and in this manner build up resistance to it. On the other hand, protein-based vaccines include pieces of the virus. When a person is vaccinated with them, their body realises that the protein should not be there and creates antibodies to fight it. The results of some clinical studies showed that Nuvaxovid demonstrated a vaccine efficacy of about 90 per cent against symptomatic Covid-19. Meanwhile, Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty and Moderna jabs showed a vaccine efficacy of about 95 per cent.
Traditional Chinese medicines beneficial in treatment of COVID-19 - WHO
Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) are beneficial in the treatment of COVID-19, particularly mild-to-moderate cases, according to a new report released by the World Health Organization. It also encourages member states to consider the potential use of TCM for the management of COVID-19 in the context of their health care systems and regulatory frameworks.
The report came in late March after a WHO Expert Meeting on Evaluation of TCMs in the Treatment of COVID-19 was held virtually from February 28 to March 2. The meeting gathered 21 international experts from the six WHO regions to consider three reports, including on clinical service, research and evidence-based evaluation provided by national expert groups in China. According to the WHO report, there are also promising data to suggest that TCM is beneficial in reducing the risk of progression from mild-to-moderate cases to severe COVID-19. For mild-to-moderate cases, the report noted there is encouraging evidence that the studied TCMs, when administered as add-on interventions to conventional treatment, may shorten the time for viral clearance, resolution of clinical symptoms and length of hospital stay when compared to conventional treatment alone.
Meanwhile, experts hold that the studied TCM interventions, given in addition to conventional treatment, were well tolerated and have a safety profile that is comparable to that of conventional treatment alone. There is also encouraging evidence that early application of TCM may result in better clinical outcomes for patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19, the report added. Based on the findings, the report recommends that the WHO share the outcomes of the meeting with member states in a timely manner, given the evolving nature of COVID-19 globally.
MRNA VACCINES Vs NON-MRNA VACCINES
MRNA VACCINES:
- As of end-January, Singapore has administered 12,755,259 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty and Moderna/Spikevax mRNA vaccines, out of which 15,655 suspected adverse events reports were received.
- The most common side effects included allergic reactions such as rash or swelling of eyelids, face and lips, dizziness, shortness of breath and fever.
- There were also 820 serious adverse events reported, including 88 cases of anaphylaxis and other reactions such as rheumatoid arthritis, severe skin reactions and low platelets and blood clots.
- "HSA has assessed that the reporting rate of AEs and serious AEs of 0.12 per cent and 0.006 per cent of administered doses, respectively have remained stable since the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccines and the overall benefits of the COVID-19 vaccines in preventing COVID-19 and serious complications associated with COVID-19 far outweigh any currently known AEs," said the authority.
NON-MRNA VACCINES:
- As of Jan 31, a total of 369,083 doses of the Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine have been administered, with 299 suspected adverse events and 22 serious adverse events reported.
- For Sinopharm, 89,350 doses have been administered, with 41 suspected adverse events and six serious adverse events reported.
- "The type and number of reports received for different COVID-19 vaccines are not directly comparable as the vaccines have been used in the vaccination programme for different durations of time," said HSA.
BOOSTER DOSES:
- Since the booster programme was rolled out on Sep 15, a total of 3,194,494 have received these jabs as of Jan 31, said HSA.
- In this category, there were 553 adverse events reports (0.03 per cent of doses administered) associated with the use of the PfizerBioNTech/Comirnaty vaccine and 289 such reports (0.03 per cent of doses administered) with the Moderna/Spikevax vaccine.
- There were also 73 serious adverse event reports (0.002 per cent of administered doses), of which 15 cases were myocarditis and pericarditis - inflammation of the heart muscles and outer lining of the heart respectively.
ADVERSE EVENTS OF SPECIAL INTEREST:
- HSA said that it is closely monitoring several adverse events of special interest, including anaphylaxis, myocarditis, pericarditis and cerebral venous thrombosis.
- So far, the incidence rate of anaphylaxis reported locally with the vaccines has remained "low and stable" at about 0.89 per 100,000 doses administered, said HSA.
- Of the 88 cases of anaphylaxis reported with the mRNA vaccines, all the patients recovered after medical treatment, said the authority.
- It added that the number of cases of anaphylaxis associated with the second dose was lower than with the first dose of mRNA vaccines. To date, HSA has not received any cases of anaphylaxis associated with the booster dose.
- For myocarditis and pericarditis, HSA said that it has as of end-January received 115 reports following the administration of mRNA vaccines. These cases happen more frequently in younger males below 30 years old, and more often with the second dose, said HSA.
- One case of myocarditis with Sinovac-Coronavac vaccine has also been reported.
- "Most cases are mild, with individuals reported to have recovered or are recovering," said the authority.
- "It should be noted that COVID-19 infection is also known to be associated with myocarditis," HSA added.
- There have been rare cases of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT), or blood clots occurring in the veins of the brain, reported with the mRNA vaccines.
- As of end-January, HSA has received 13 suspected reports of cerebral venous thrombosis with such vaccines.
- "Vaccines are the best way to protect people from COVID-19 and have already saved many lives," said HSA.
- "HSA’s current assessment is that the overall benefits of the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty, Moderna/Spikevax and Sinovac-CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccines in preventing COVID-19 and serious complications associated with COVID-19 far outweigh any currently known adverse events," it added.
Can existing vaccines protect against Omicron?
As cases of the Omicron variant continue to rise across the U.S., public health officials have one main question: Are the current COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer effective against the new variant?
For now, no one truly knows the answer but promising data released from Pfizer and BioNTech gave the U.S. a glimmer of hope. In a joint statement Wednesday, the companies said that while their current two-dose jab is "significantly less effective at blocking the virus," a booster shot "neutralized the Omicron variant in lab tests." There's also information from the Africa Health Research Institute published Tuesday suggesting that the booster is likely to protect people from serious illness from the new variant.
The CEOs of Pfizer and Moderna, as well as scientists from Johnson & Johnson, have all weighed in on how effective their vaccine jabs could be. Here's a roundup of what top leaders from vaccine makers have said about their fight against Omicron.
Sinovac booster shot shows 94% neutralization efficacy against Omicron
A staff member checks tags on vials of COVID-19 vaccine at a packing line of Sinovac Life Sciences Co., Ltd. in Beijing, capital of China, Dec 23, 2020. Photo:Xinhua
The latest study shows a third shot of Chinese biotech firm Sinovac's inactivated vaccine can more than double the vaccine's neutralizing antibody positive rate against the Omicron variant, the Global Times learned from the company on Wednesday.
The study was conducted by the company on 20 people who received two shots and another 48 who received three shots. Seven in the first group and 45 in the second tested positive in neutralizing antibodies against the Omicron variant, the company said in a statement to the Global Times.
Sinovac said that the data demonstrated that the administration of a booster shot of its vaccine can effectively enhance the vaccine's neutralizing capacity to the Omicron variant, read the statement.
China’s Sinovac says third shot could help fight COVID-19 omicron variant
The Covid-19 vaccine by Sinovac Biotech is not able to produce adequate antibodies to neutralise the highly mutated coronavirus strain Omicron, according to new research from the University of Hong Kong.
Both the Sinovac vaccine and another by Pfizer-BioNTech produced "inadequate" antibody responses to the variant, HKU scientists said in a statement on Tuesday night, calling for the use of boosters to potentially enhance protection.
Beijing-based Sinovac on Wednesday responded with a statement saying a third shot of its CoronaVac vaccine could improve its ability to neutralise Omicron, citing its own laboratory studies.
China’s Sinovac says third shot could help fight Omicron variant
A high school student receives the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine in Nanjing, in China’s eastern Jiangsu province. Photo: AFP
The Covid-19 vaccine by Sinovac Biotech is not able to produce adequate antibodies to neutralise the highly mutated coronavirus strain Omicron, according to new research from the University of Hong Kong.
Both the Sinovac vaccine and another by Pfizer-BioNTech produced “inadequate” antibody responses to the variant, HKU scientists said in a statement on Tuesday night, calling for the use of boosters to potentially enhance protection.
Beijing-based Sinovac on Wednesday responded with a statement saying a third shot of its CoronaVac vaccine could improve its ability to neutralise Omicron, citing its own laboratory studies.
Comparing the COVID-19 Vaccines: How Are They Different?
Although each vaccine is unique, all of them offer strong protection against severe disease
In the United States, the highly transmissible Delta variant is driving an uptick in COVID-19 cases, primarily among the unvaccinated. But the good news is, as the weeks pass, more reports have been coming out about the effectiveness of the vaccines that are in use and the potential of those still in development. So, how do they differ?
It’s important to keep up, but it’s also a daunting task, given the flood of information (and misinformation) coming at us from so many directions. Vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson are being administered in the U.S. The FDA has authorized—and the CDC has approved—booster shots for all three vaccines, along with a “mix-and-match” approach that would allow people to choose a different vaccine for their booster than the one they started with.
We mapped out a comparison of the most prominent COVID-19 vaccines:
- Pfizer-BioNTech
- Moderna
- Johnson & Johnson
- Oxford-AstraZeneca
- Novavax
Novavax testing vaccine that targets new Omicron Covid-19 variant
The company said it would have the shot ready for testing and manufacturing in the next few weeks. PHOTO: REUTERS
Novavax said on Friday (Nov 26) it had started working on a version of its Covid-19 vaccine to target the variant detected in South Africa and would have the shot ready for testing and manufacturing in the next few weeks.
The company's Covid-19 shot contains an actual version of the virus' spike protein that cannot cause disease but can trigger the immune system.
The vaccine developer said it had started developing a spike protein specifically based on the known genetic sequence of the variant, B.1.1.529.
related:
Novavax developing vaccine that targets new COVID-19 Omicron variant
A woman holds a small bottle labeled with a "Coronavirus COVID-19 Vaccine" sticker and a medical syringe in front of displayed Novavax logo in this illustration taken, October 30, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic
Novavax Inc said on Friday (Nov 26) it had started working on a version of its COVID-19 vaccine to target the variant detected in South Africa and would have the shot ready for testing and manufacturing in the next few weeks.
The company's COVID-19 shot contains an actual version of the virus' spike protein that cannot cause disease but can trigger the immune system. The vaccine developer said it had started developing a spike protein specifically based on the known genetic sequence of the variant, B.1.1.529.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) designated the variant, named omicron, as being "of concern", a label only given to four variants to date. "The initial work will take a few weeks," a company spokesperson said. Shares of the company closed up nearly 9 per cent on Friday.
related:
Novavax applies for approval to use its Covid-19 vaccine in S'pore
How the vaccines match up
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung had said in June that the Ministry of Health had been looking for good quality vaccines that are safe and effective, to be part of the national vaccination programme.
As Novavax is a protein-based vaccine, it uses a laboratory-made version of the Sars-CoV-2 spike protein to stimulate an immune response. Sars-CoV-2 is the virus that causes Covid-19.
The supply of the Novavax vaccine would make it the fifth vaccine available here - alongside Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty, Moderna, Sinovac and Sinopharm. Sinopharm has not been included in the national vaccination programme as the manufacturer has not applied for interim approval for use, as at Oct 23.
Those who took Sinovac, Sinopharm COVID-19 jabs reminded to get 3rd dose to keep vaccination status
People who have received two doses of the Sinovac or Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine are reminded to take their third dose to be considered fully vaccinated from Jan 1.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) said that since Wednesday (Dec 1), it has been progressively sending out SMS notifications to 70,000 people who have received two doses of these vaccines. They are eligible to take their third dose three months after their second jab. "To maintain their fully vaccinated status from Jan 1, 2022, onwards, they are strongly encouraged to take their third dose before Dec 31, 2021, as long as their second dose had been administered three months ago," said MOH on Thursday.
From Jan 1, eligible individuals who have not taken their third dose will have their vaccination status go back to "vaccination in progress". This means they will be subject to vaccination-differentiated safe management measures as well as restrictions at the workplace. It was previously announced that from next year, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated people will not be allowed to produce a negative pre-event test to enter premises.
Study of S'pore population finds Pfizer, Moderna vaccines offer better protection against Covid-19 compared to Sinovac
MOH "strongly encouraged" this group to opt for an mRNA vaccine for their third dose. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
Some 70,000 people who took their second Sinovac or Sinopharm jabs at least three months ago have till Dec 31 to get their third dose in order to keep their fully vaccinated status from Jan 1, while the grace period for children turning 13 next year to get fully vaccinated has been extended by two months to March 1.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) on Thursday (Dec 2) said reminder SMSes have been sent to people due for their third dose of Sinovac-CoronaVac or Sinopharm vaccines.
To maintain their fully vaccinated status from Jan 1, 2022 onwards, they are strongly encouraged to take their third dose before Dec 31 as long as their second dose had been administered three months ago.
Study of S'pore population finds Pfizer, Moderna vaccines offer better protection against Covid-19 compared to Sinovac
An analysis of data in Singapore showed that the effectiveness of two doses of the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine was 60 per cent against severe disease
People in Singapore who received two doses of the Sinovac vaccine have been observed to have lower protection against severe disease when infected by the Delta coronavirus strain, compared to those who were fully vaccinated with the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.
This was based on a recent study conducted here by the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) and the Covid-19 data management and analytics team of the Ministry of Health (MOH).
“This supports the need for three doses of the Sinovac-Coronavac vaccine as a primary series,” NCID and MOH said.
related: MOH reminding people who had 2 doses of Sinovac or Sinopharm vaccine to get 3rd dose by Dec 31
Comparing COVID-19 Vaccines: Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Johnson & Johnson
COVID-19 is the illness that’s caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. To date, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has provided emergency use authorization to three different vaccines to help protect against COVID-19:
- Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine
- Moderna mRNA vaccine
- Johnson & Johnson (J&J) adenovirus vector vaccine
Read on to learn how each vaccine works, how safe and effective each one is, and how to decide which one may be the right choice for you.
Pfizer Shot Generated Most Antibodies in Comparative Study
Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE’s Covid-19 shot yielded the strongest immune response among four vaccines tested in a study, which found people getting Sinopharm’s inoculation may be particularly susceptible to a breakthrough infection.
Levels of protective antibodies to the part of the coronavirus that SARS-CoV-2 uses to infect human cells varied widely across each of the four vaccine groups. “Relatively low” antibody concentrations were stimulated by the Sinopharm and Sputnik V vaccines, intermediate levels for the AstraZeneca Plc vaccine, and the highest values for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, a study in the journal Cell Host and Microbe showed.
The reasons for the differences in immune responses between vaccine types are the subject of intense research. They are likely to include factors such as the amount of active ingredient in each dose and the interval between getting the first and second shots, said the authors from Stanford University, the Onom Foundation, and the National Center for Zoonotic Diseases in Ulaanbaatar in the paper published Thursday.
Pfizer or Moderna booster - which is more effective?
The Health Ministry recently did a study on the relative effectiveness of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines as booster shots. PHOTO: AFP
Getting a booster shot with either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna Covid-19 vaccine further reduces the risk of infection by over 60 per cent. Those who had taken a Moderna booster shot after two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech saw a further reduction in infection risk by 72 per cent, while those who took a Pfizer booster shot after two jabs of the Pfizer vaccine saw a 62 per cent reduction.
The statistics was shared by Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Monday evening (Nov 15) at a virtual press conference held by the multi-ministry task force on Covid-19. He said that the Health Ministry had recently done a study on the relative effectiveness of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines as booster shots in terms of reducing infection risk, and compared the two combinations.
One possible combination is three consecutive shots of the Pfizer vaccine (two regular jabs and one booster) while the other combination is a Moderna shot after two regular doses of the Pfizer jab. Mr Ong noted that results for other combinations, such as a Pfizer shot after two doses of Moderna jabs, do not have large sample sizes and hence may not yield meaningful statistics.
Third dose of Pfizer vaccine 'really lifts the level of immunity', immunologist says
An immunologist says those who qualify should get a Covid-19 booster shot because it seems that the third dose of Pfizer really lifts people's level of immunity. The government yesterday announced that booster shots of the Pfizer vaccine would be available in a fortnight from 29 November for people who got their second dose more than six months ago.
Ultimately the booster shots will be available to everyone, though those initially seeking a third shot will be the over-65s, border workers and medical staff - the first cohort to be vaccinated earlier this year. Immunologist Graham Le Gros, who is director at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, said booster shots had great potential to change the game for the better.
"It seems that with this Pfizer vaccine, the third dose really lifts the level of immunity way beyond and it really gives the person who receives it a very strong immune response, very protective and it really resists against that waning immunity we've seen from overseas." He said some people, such as those on immune suppressive drugs or those who are older, may not have had such a good immune response to two shots of the vaccine and the third dose would bring their immune response up to a good level so they stay protected.
Thoughts on third shot: Boosters will likely be useful
When a person is fully vaccinated with the recommended number of doses, a certain level of protection is achieved against infection, hospitalisation, and death. That level of protection varies with time, with vaccine and by variant.
Early data from Israel demonstrated the high rates of protection afforded by the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine, Comirnaty. By July, the Israeli data showed declining protection, with people who were vaccinated earliest in the pandemic having less protection than those who were vaccinated later, particularly the elderly.
In other data from the Middle East, inactivated vaccines protected less than mRNA vaccines, and less well against the Beta variant. A number of countries began first discussing and then implementing policies to vaccinate either vulnerable groups, or their entire eligible populations, with booster doses. The early experience of these countries has shown that adding a booster dose results in better protection than staying with just the original full vaccination schedule.
COVID-19 Singapore abandoning ‘Zero COVID’ strategy
ided that their earlier strategy of zero COVID is futile and that they must learn to live with the virus. In Singapore, that shift has ushered in a surge of coronavirus infections.
Singapore has one of the world's highest vaccination rates at 82%, yet cases of COVID-19 are skyrocketing from just double digits in August to well over 3,000 cases a day now. Infectious disease physician Dale Fisher of the National University Hospital says Singapore is letting nature take its course.
Singapore's health experts say exiting the pandemic will mean a carefully calibrated lifting of lids and laying them back on again as needed. Fisher says it may take another year or two. Meanwhile, he says don't expect a Singapore version of the U.K.'s Freedom Day, where almost all COVID-19 restrictions were lifted.
related:
Government to begin Sinovac COVID-19 jabs at Raffles City
Individuals can make appointments to receive the Sinovac-CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccination at Raffles City Convention Centre from Saturday (Oct 30), with seniors being allowed to walk in without an appointment from Sunday.
"This will greatly expand capacity on top of the private clinics and public healthcare institutions that administer the Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine on behalf of the Ministry of Health (MOH)," said the ministry in a press release on Saturday.
Last week, the COVID-19 multi-ministry task force announced that the Sinovac vaccine would be included in the National Vaccination Programme.
Sinovac included in Singapore's national Covid-19 vaccination programme
Under the national vaccination programme, the Sinovac vaccine will be administered for free. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
This follows the Health Sciences Authority's (HSA) interim authorisation of the vaccine under the Pandemic Special Access Route (PSAR).
Three doses of the Sinovac vaccine will be required for a person to be considered fully vaccinated, said the Ministry of Health (MOH).
Unvaccinated vs vaccinated Covid-19 deaths in Singapore
Out of 5.5 million people, 500,000 children below the age of 12 are ineligible to receive the vaccine yet. But while they may be carriers of the virus, they are exceedingly unlikely to end up in hospital or suffer serious adverse effects. Among those over the age of 12, 94 per cent have already received their vaccines. Nevertheless, the remaining six per cent translates to a whopping 300,000 people — still an enormous group, which is highly vulnerable to COVID-19.
According to the Ministry of Health (MOH), individuals from among the six per cent of those who are partially or completely unvaccinated comprised 67.5 per cent of deaths in the first three weeks of October.
What’s really sad is that out of 169 deaths reported in that period, 30 were of those who received one dose of the vaccine. This suggests that they got scared some time before they ended up contracting the disease and went to receive their shot, but did not survive long enough to complete the two-dose cycle and develop necessary immunity.
Why vaccinated people dying from Covid-19 doesn't mean the vaccines are ineffective
Former US Secretary of State Colin Powell died on Monday of Covid-19 complications. His family announced that he was fully vaccinated. He was 84 years old, and had multiple myeloma, a blood cancer.
Health officials worry that anti-vaccine activists will seize upon Powell's death to make the claim that vaccines don't work. If you can still die after being vaccinated for Covid-19, what's the point of getting the vaccine?
What's the answer to that question? I discussed it with CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and professor of health policy and management at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. She is also author of a new book, "Lifelines: A Doctor's Journey in the Fight for Public Health."
How Are They Different?
Although each vaccine is unique, all of them offer strong protection against severe disease
In the United States, the highly transmissible Delta variant is driving an uptick in COVID-19 cases, primarily among the unvaccinated. But the good news is, as the weeks pass, more reports have been coming out about the effectiveness of the vaccines that are in use and the potential of those still in development. So, how do they differ?
It’s important to keep up, but it’s also a daunting task, given the flood of information (and misinformation) coming at us from so many directions. Vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson are being administered in the U.S. right now, and others are on track to do the same.
We mapped out a comparison of the most prominent COVID-19 vaccines. The three vaccines in use in the US:
- Pfizer-BioNTech
- Moderna
- Johnson & Johnson
Singapore’s 3 COVID-19 Vaccines – And Is One Better Than The Others?
Singapore has ordered the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Sinovac vaccines as the first three of its portfolio in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Both the Pfizer-BioNTech (also in use in Britain and the US) and Moderna (used in the US) vaccines use messenger RNA (mRNA) technology that involves injecting snippets of the COVID-19 genetic code, triggering an immune response without actually exposing the patient to the virus. Both vaccines are said to have an efficacy rate of about 95%. The China-made Sinovac vaccine uses an inactivated COVID-19 virus to trigger an immune response. There is a lack of specific results on its efficacy at the moment. As of January 7, 2020, the Sinovac vaccine has not been used in any country.
Co-chair of the COVID-19 multi-ministry task force Lawrence Wong tells #TalkingPoint why the Singapore Government convened an expert panel as early as April 2020 to look into early purchases of COVID-19 vaccines based on early-stage clinical information. Director of communicable diseases at the Ministry of Health (MOH) Vernon Lee said “all the vaccines approved in Singapore are safe and efficacious”, but that some may be more suited to certain subpopulations. The Pfizer vaccine for instance - the only one in use in Singapore as of Jan 8 - is not for use in those with severe allergic reactions.
It’s Time to Trust China’s and Russia’s Vaccines
While the richest countries in the world are grappling with shortages of Covid-19 vaccines, some of the poorest worry about getting vaccines at all. Yet a solution to both problems may be hiding in plain sight: vaccines from China and Russia, and soon, perhaps, India.
Chinese and Russian vaccines were initially dismissed in Western and other global media, partly because of a perception that they were inferior to the vaccines produced by Moderna, Pfizer-BioNtech or AstraZeneca. And that perception seemed to stem partly from the fact that China and Russia are authoritarian states. But evidence has been accumulating for a while that the vaccines from those countries work well, too. The leading medical journal The Lancet published this week interim results from late-stage trials showing that Sputnik V, the Russian vaccine, had an efficacy rate of 91.6 percent. Those confirmed findings released in mid-December by the vaccine’s developers, the Gamaleya Center and the Russian Direct Investment Fund.
The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Serbia, Morocco, Hungary and Pakistan have approved the Sinopharm vaccine from China; as of mid-January, 1.8 million people in the U.A.E. had received it. Bolivia, Indonesia, Turkey, Brazil and Chile have approved and begun to roll out another Chinese vaccine, from Sinovac. Sputnik V will be distributed in more than a dozen countries in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.
The world turns to China for Covid-19 vaccines after India, US stumble
The WHO is weighing data on Chinese vaccines before a decision on clearance, which is expected in days or weeks. PHOTO: EPA-EFE
The world is fast becoming ever more reliant on China for vaccines, with India's raging virus outbreak stifling its ability to deliver on supply deals, even as the US tries to position itself as a champion of wider access.
Over the past few weeks, leaders of some of the globe's most populous nations have sought more shots from China despite concerns about their effectiveness. Demand is expected to rise even further if the World Health Organisation, as expected, authorises vaccines from China's Sinovac Biotech and Sinopharm Group, allowing developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America to access them through Covax, the global vaccination effort.
"China has become not just the largest exporter," said Yanzhong Huang, a China specialist and senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations. "In many countries it has become the only option." China's reliability as a vaccine supplier is increasing its geopolitical clout at a time when the US and the EU have been slow confronting the global pandemic as Covid hot spots rage out of control in India, Brazil and elsewhere.
China administering more Covid-19 vaccines than anywhere else, but still needs to speed up roll-out
China had administered a total of 243.91 million doses as of April 28. PHOTO: AFP
China became the country to have administered Covid-19 vaccinations to more people than any other this week, but health authorities will need to accelerate the roll-out to meet a target to inoculate 40 per cent of its population by the end of June.
China had administered a total of 243.91 million doses as at Wednesday (April 28), surpassing 234.6 million shots the United States has given.
But with population of 1.4 billion people, China has administered just 17.4 doses per 100 people, far behind the 71.1 administered in the US, which has a population less than a quarter the size.
Covid: Is China's vaccine success waning in Asia?
Indonesia has been mainly using Sinovac's vaccine in its Covid immunisation programme
Across Asia, Chinese vaccines have played a crucial role in immunising people against Covid-19, with millions receiving either a Sinovac or Sinopharm jab. But in recent weeks, concerns have grown about their efficacy. Now, some Asian countries which made Chinese vaccines a key plank in their immunisation programmes have announced they will use other jabs. The move has raised questions, not only about whether China's vaccines can be trusted, but also about its attempts at vaccine diplomacy in Asia.
Last week, Thailand announced it was changing its vaccine policy - instead of receiving two Sinovac shots, residents will now get a mix of Sinovac and AstraZeneca. Healthcare workers who are already fully vaccinated with Sinovac will also get a different jab as a booster shot.
Indonesia announced a similar move the previous week, saying it was giving Moderna booster shots to healthcare workers immunised with Sinovac. The decisions followed reports that hundreds of fully vaccinated healthcare workers had caught Covid, with some of them - two in Thailand and 30 in Indonesia - dying.
Why the Chinese and Russian Vaccines Haven't Been the Geopolitical Wins They Were Hoping For
A beneficiary poses for a photo after getting vaccinated with a dose of Russia's Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine at a vaccination centre, on July 13, 2021 in Mumbai, India
hina and Russia both thought the pandemic would give them a chance to show that they are scientifically innovative—and more generous—than Western countries, which were slower to roll out vaccines and which have been accused of hoarding supplies. It hasn’t worked out.
China’s president Xi Jinping referred to Chinese vaccines as a “global public good.” China’s Sinovac vaccine also offers developing countries some important advantages that the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines can’t match. Sinovac can be stored in a standard refrigerator. The Moderna vaccine must be stored at -20°C and the Pfizer vaccine at -70°C, an obstacle in countries where health infrastructure is lacking. That’s part of why China’s vaccines have been injected into arms in more than 80 countries across the developing world.
The trouble is that, when compared with these other vaccines, China’s jabs just aren’t very effective. The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccines have efficacy rates of more than 90%. The World Health Organization noted in June that the Sinovac vaccine “prevented symptomatic disease in 51% of those vaccinated and prevented severe Covid-19 and hospitalization in 100% of the studied population,” though it acknowledged that few adults over age 60 took part in the trials, , potentially skewing the numbers by with a sample population that’s less vulnerable that the public at large. Data for the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine demonstrated a “vaccine efficacy [rate] for symptomatic and hospitalized disease” at 79%—though here too patients over 60 were underrepresented.
Vaccine Effectiveness and Variants Explained
Which Covid vaccine is the best? Which Covid vaccine is the most effective? How do we measure vaccine effectiveness? Do Covid vaccines work against new variants? Is it possible that Covid vaccines may make things worse in the future?
I answer all of these questions in this video. First, we compare the seven vaccines that have published phase 3 trial data as of June 2021. Those include Pfizer, Moderna, Sputnik, Johnson & Johnson, Sinovac, Sinopharm, and AstraZeneca. I look at the phase 3 trial data published in peer-reviewed journals. I compare the vaccine effectiveness between each vaccine. I also look at the differences in the phase III studies and see that the SARS-CoV-2 variants probably explain the differences in the vaccines. Each vaccine becomes less effective against variants that have more mutations, especially mutations on the spike protein, such as the E484K mutation, which can cause immune escape. Important mutations discussed include the South African variant, B.1.351, the Brazil variant, P.1, the UK variant, B.1.1.7, and the Indian variant, B.1.167.
Finally, I explain why this matters. Countries, such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia, that have not yet had widespread Covid outbreaks may not be able to effectively use vaccines to prevent future outbreaks, as the current vaccines have substantially reduced effectiveness against the variants in those countries. I also explore the possibility that vaccines may initiate antibody-dependent enhancement, or ADE, which may make future infections worse for some people.
New study reveals which COVID-19 booster shot is best for you
A new study of COVID-19 vaccine booster shots gives a thumbs up to Moderna and Pfizer
A new study released Wednesday found that the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine boosters shots produced stronger immunity than the Johnson & Johnson booster shot. The study suggested that those who got the J&J one-shot vaccine would be better off getting a Moderna or Pfizer booster shot than getting a J&J booster shot. Pfizer and Moderna recipients didn’t show too big of a difference in providing immunity. The study — which comes from the National Institutes of Health — had 458 volunteers, who were separated into nine groups of about 50:
- Anyone who got the two-dose Moderna vaccine received either a Moderna, Pfizer or J&J booster.
- Those who got the two-dose Pfizer vaccine got either the Pfizer, Moderna or J&J booster.
- Anyone who got the one-shot J&J vaccine got another J&J shot, or a Moderna or Pfizer booster.
The study found that those who got the Moderna vaccine and a Moderna booster shot had the best immune response. The next strongest included:
- Pfizer shot with a Moderna booster.
- Moderna’s two-dose vaccine with Pfizer’s booster.
However, as NPR explains, the “increase in immune response with the mRNA vaccines was probably too small to really make a difference in protection in most groups.” Also, those who got the J&J vaccine had the best immune response when they received a Pfizer or Moderna booster — not a J&J booster. This new data comes as the Food and Drug Administration is monitoring new COVID-19 booster shots from Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. The Pfizer COVID-19 booster shot has already been approved and has been in circulation for weeks.
Comparing the Covid-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson
CVS registered pharmacist Ken Ramey prepares to give a Covid-19 vaccine at the Isles of Vero Beach assisted and independent senior living community in Vero Beach
Scientific teams around the world have developed successful Covid-19 vaccines in incredibly short order. In a feat that even a couple of years ago would have seemed completely out of reach, vaccines to protect against the new disease were being used before the first anniversary of the disclosure that a new threat existed. This is truly extraordinary.
In the United States, three vaccines are available. Two — those from Moderna and Johnson & Johnson — have emergency use authorizations, which are green lights from the Food and Drug Administration to be put into use, even though they have not yet been fully licensed. In August 2021, the FDA gave full approval to the vaccine developed by the partnership of Pfizer and German manufacturer BioNTech for people 16 and older.
The Pfizer shot first received emergency authorization in mid-December, followed closely by the one developed by Moderna with assistance from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
COVID-19 vaccines
Equitable access to safe and effective vaccines is critical to ending the COVID-19 pandemic, so it is hugely encouraging to see so many vaccines proving and going into development. WHO is working tirelessly with partners to develop, manufacture and deploy safe and effective vaccines. Safe and effective vaccines are a game-changing tool: but for the foreseeable future we must continue wearing masks, cleaning our hands, ensuring good ventilation indoors, physically distancing and avoiding crowds.
Being vaccinated does not mean that we can throw caution to the wind and put ourselves and others at risk, particularly because research is still ongoing into how much vaccines protect not only against disease but also against infection and transmission. See WHO’s landscape of COVID-19 vaccine candidates for the latest information on vaccines in clinical and pre-clinical development, generally updated twice a week. WHO’s COVID-19 dashboard, updated daily, also features the number of vaccine doses administered globally, with more detail provided on the dedicated COVID-19 vaccination dashboard. At a regional level, there is an AFRO COVID-19 vaccines dashboard and a PAHO COVID-19 vaccines deliveries dashboard.
But it’s not vaccines that will stop the pandemic, it’s vaccination. We must ensure fair and equitable access to vaccines, and ensure every country receives them and can roll them out to protect their people, starting with the most vulnerable.
Effectiveness of Covid-19 Vaccines in Ambulatory and Inpatient Care Settings
There are limited data on the effectiveness of the vaccines against symptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) currently authorized in the United States with respect to hospitalization, admission to an intensive care unit (ICU), or ambulatory care in an emergency department or urgent care clinic.
We conducted a study involving adults (≥50 years of age) with Covid-19–like illness who underwent molecular testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We assessed 41,552 admissions to 187 hospitals and 21,522 visits to 221 emergency departments or urgent care clinics during the period from January 1 through June 22, 2021, in multiple states. The patients’ vaccination status was documented in electronic health records and immunization registries. We used a test-negative design to estimate vaccine effectiveness by comparing the odds of a positive test for SARS-CoV-2 infection among vaccinated patients with those among unvaccinated patients. Vaccine effectiveness was adjusted with weights based on propensity-for-vaccination scores and according to age, geographic region, calendar time (days from January 1, 2021, to the index date for each medical visit), and local virus circulation.
The effectiveness of full messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccination (≥14 days after the second dose) was 89% (95% confidence interval [CI], 87 to 91) against laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection leading to hospitalization, 90% (95% CI, 86 to 93) against infection leading to an ICU admission, and 91% (95% CI, 89 to 93) against infection leading to an emergency department or urgent care clinic visit. The effectiveness of full vaccination with respect to a Covid-19–associated hospitalization or emergency department or urgent care clinic visit was similar with the BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 vaccines and ranged from 81% to 95% among adults 85 years of age or older, persons with chronic medical conditions, and Black or Hispanic adults. The effectiveness of the Ad26.COV2.S vaccine was 68% (95% CI, 50 to 79) against laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection leading to hospitalization and 73% (95% CI, 59 to 82) against infection leading to an emergency department or urgent care clinic visit.
Vaccine protection and variants
When cases increase and transmission accelerates, it’s more likely that new dangerous and more transmissible variants emerge, which can spread more easily or cause more severe illness. Based on what we know so far, vaccines are proving effective against existing variants, especially at preventing severe disease, hospitalization and death. However, some variants are having a slight impact on the ability of vaccines to guard against mild disease and infection.
Vaccines are likely staying effective against variants because of the broad immune response they cause, which means that virus changes or mutations are unlikely to make vaccines completely ineffective. WHO continues to constantly review the evidence and will update its guidance as we find out more. For the latest updates on what we know about the COVID-19 variants, read our latest weekly epidemiological updates and our explainer on ‘the effects of virus variants on COVID-19 vaccines’.
One of the best ways of guarding against new variants is to continue applying tried-and-tested public health measures and rolling out vaccines. All COVID-19 vaccines approved for emergency use listing by WHO have been thoroughly tested and proven to provide a high degree of protection against serious illness and death. As stronger virus variants emerge, it’s important to take your vaccine when it’s your turn.
Rate of suspected adverse events linked to the Covid-19 vaccines
In its sixth safety update on Covid-19 vaccines, covering the period from Dec 30 last year to Sept 30 this year, the HSA said 9,209,201 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccines have been administered as at Sept 30 this year.
The rate of suspected adverse events linked to the Covid-19 vaccines under the national vaccination programme is 0.14 per cent, with 12,589 reports received. The rate of serious adverse events is much lower, at 0.006 per cent, with 581 reports received.
As for the Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine, 111 suspected adverse event reports were received after 180,903 doses were administered, which means the rate of suspected adverse events is 0.06 per cent. Nine (0.005 per cent of doses administered) of the reports were assessed as serious. With the Sinopharm vaccine, 17,630 doses were administered, with three suspected adverse event reports received, which means an adverse event rate of 0.02 per cent. No serious adverse events were reported with the Sinopharm vaccine.
3 suspected ‘adverse events’ reported out of 17,630 Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine doses: HSA
As of Sept 30, there were a total of three reports of suspected “adverse events” experienced by people who received the Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said. In its sixth safety report, HSA said on Friday (Oct 15) that the three reports were out of a total of 17,630 doses of the China-made vaccine administered here since Aug 30, when the first dose was given. It was approved under HSA’s special access route. There were also no serious adverse events reported for the vaccine so far, it added. An adverse event for vaccination is any undesirable medical condition that occurs after taking the vaccine, which does not necessarily have a direct link to it. It may be coincidental or related to an underlying or undiagnosed disease. These have to be reported by healthcare providers to HSA.
As for the Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine, HSA said it has received 111 reports of suspected adverse events, including nine serious ones, out of a total of 180,903 doses of the vaccine being administered here since Sept 30. The 111 reports is an increase from the 90 suspected adverse events stated in HSA’s fifth safety report about a month ago.
As for the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, which are part of Singapore's national voluntary vaccination programme, HSA said it has received 12,589 reports of suspected adverse events. This is 0.14 per cent of the more than 8.9 million doses administered as of Sept 30, just marginally more than the 0.13 per cent in the update last month. About 79 per cent of the suspected adverse events were among people younger than 60 and 67 per cent were women. Suspected serious adverse events made up 581 or 0.006 per cent of all doses of the mRNA vaccines, the same percentage as stated in the last update
Moderna vs Pfizer - Both knockouts, but one seems to have the edge
Pfizer-BioNTech (left) and Moderna Covid-19 doses ready for patients at a pharmacy on March 8, 2021. In a half-dozen studies published over the past few weeks, Moderna’s vaccine appeared to be more protective over the long term than the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine
It was a constant refrain from federal health officials after the coronavirus vaccines were authorised: These shots are all equally effective. That has turned out not to be true. Roughly 221 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine have been dispensed thus far in the United States, compared with about 150 million doses of Moderna’s vaccine. In a half-dozen studies published over the past few weeks, Moderna’s vaccine appeared to be more protective than the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in the months after immunisation.
The latest such study, published on Wednesday (Sept 22) in The New England Journal of Medicine, evaluated the real-world effectiveness of the vaccines at preventing symptomatic illness in about 5,000 health care workers in 25 states. The study found that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine had an effectiveness of 88.8 per cent, compared with Moderna’s 96.3 per cent. Research published on Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the efficacy of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against hospitalisation fell from 91 per cent to 77 per cent after a four-month period following the second shot. The Moderna vaccine showed no decline over the same period. If the efficacy gap continues to widen, it may have implications for the debate on booster shots. Federal agencies this week are evaluating the need for a third shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for some high-risk groups, including older adults.
Scientists who were initially sceptical of the reported differences between the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines have slowly become convinced that the disparity is small but real. “Our baseline assumption is that the mRNA vaccines are functioning similarly, but then you start to see a separation,” said Dr Natalie Dean, a biostatistician at Emory University in Atlanta. “It’s not a huge difference, but at least it’s consistent.”
Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla predicts normal life will return within a year and adds we may need annual Covid shots
There will be a return to normal life within a year, Pfizer CEO and Chairman Albert Bourla said on Sunday, adding that it’s likely annual Covid vaccination shots will be necessary. “Within a year I think we will be able to come back to normal life,” Bourla said in an interview on ABC’s “This Week.”
Returning to normal life will have caveats, he said: “I don’t think that this means that the variants will not continue coming, and I don’t think that this means that we should be able to live our lives without having vaccinations,” Bourla said. “But that, again, remains to be seen.” Bourla’s prediction about when normal life will resume is in keeping with that of Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel. “As of today, in a year, I assume,” Bancel told the Swiss newspaper Neue Zuercher Zeitung, according to Reuters on Thursday, when asked for his estimate of a return to normal life.
In order to make that happen, Pfizer’s Bourla suggested it is likely annual coronavirus vaccine shots will be needed. “The most likely scenario for me is that, because the virus is spread all over the world, that it will continue seeing new variants that are coming out,” Bourla said. “Also we will have vaccines that they will last at least a year, and I think the most likely scenario is annual vaccination, but we don’t know really, we need to wait and see the data.”
COVID-19 vaccine boosters could mean billions for drugmakers
In this March 2021 photo provided by Pfizer, a technician works on a line for packaging preparation for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at the company's facility in Puurs, Belgium. Billions more in profits are at stake for some vaccine makers as the U.S. moves toward dispensing COVID-19 booster shots to shore up Americans' protection against the virus. (Pfizer via AP)
Officials described the move as a first step. Boosters will likely be offered even more broadly in the coming weeks or months, including boosters of vaccines made by Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. That, plus continued growth in initial vaccinations, could mean a huge gain in sales and profits for Pfizer and Moderna in particular. “The opportunity quite frankly is reflective of the billions of people around the world who would need a vaccination and a boost,” Jefferies analyst Michael Yee said.
Wall Street is taking notice. The average forecast among analysts for Moderna’s 2022 revenue has jumped 35% since President Joe Biden laid out his booster plan in mid-August. Most of the vaccinations so far in the U.S. have come from Pfizer, which developed its shot with Germany’s BioNTech, and Moderna. They have inoculated about 99 million and 68 million people, respectively. Johnson & Johnson is third with about 14 million people. No one knows yet how many people will get the extra shots. But Morningstar analyst Karen Andersen expects boosters alone to bring in about $26 billion in global sales next year for Pfizer and BioNTech and around $14 billion for Moderna if they are endorsed for nearly all Americans.
Moderna Covid-19 vaccine edges Pfizer in new US research
The Moderna vaccine was 93 per cent effective against hospitalisation, Pfizer was 88 per cent effective, and J&J was 68 per cent effective. PHOTO: REUTERS
A new study released by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday (Sept 17) is the latest to suggest the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine confers better long-term protection against hospitalisation than Pfizer.
CDC researchers conducted an analysis of nearly 3,689 adults who were hospitalized with severe Covid-19 from March 11 to Aug 15, 2021 - a period that precedes and includes the dominance of the Delta variant.
Overall, 12.9 per cent were fully vaccinated with the Moderna vaccine, 20 per cent were vaccinated with Pfizer-BioNTech, and 3.1 per cent were vaccinated with Johnson & Johnson.
80% immunity from Pfizer vaccine lost in 6 months
COVID-19 antibodies generated by the Pfizer vaccine dipped by more than 80% six months after the second dose, a study conducted in the United States has found. The research, led by Case Western Reserve University and Brown University, examined the blood samples of 120 nursing home residents and 92 healthcare workers, reports say. Here are more details on this.
The results were the same in seniors, with a median age of 76, and caregivers, with a median age of 48, according to the researchers. The study has been posted on the pre-print server medRxiv but is yet to be published. In fact, seniors who had not previously contracted COVID-19 had substantially reduced antibodies within two weeks of receiving the second dose, researchers reported. Six months after the vaccination, the blood of 70% of the nursing home residents showed "very poor ability to neutralize the coronavirus infection in laboratory experiments," said David Canaday, a professor at the Case Western Reserve University. Canaday added these findings support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) recommendation for booster shots, especially for the elderly.
Pfizer's was one of the first vaccines to be approved in the US. It uses mRNA-based technology, meaning it gives your cells instructions to make the coronavirus's spike protein, teaching your immune system to protect you if the virus affects you. Earlier, company CEO Albert Bourla had said the efficacy of Pfizer's vaccine declines to about 84%, four-six months after the second dose. The study has further highlighted the need to give out booster shots, especially to vulnerable populations. The US is expected to start administering COVID-19 booster shots this month. That campaign will start with the Pfizer vaccine from September 20, according to top officials. Israel has already started giving out booster shots while several other countries are planning to do so.
Moderna says COVID-19 vaccine protection wanes, makes case for booster
New data from Moderna's large COVID-19 vaccine trial shows that the protection it offers wanes over time, supporting the case for booster doses, the company said in a news release on Wednesday (Sep 15).
"This is only one estimate, but we do believe this means as you look toward the fall and winter, at minimum we expect the estimated impact of waning immunity would be 600,000 additional cases of COVID-19," Moderna President Stephen Hoge said on a conference call with investors. Hoge did not project how many of the cases would be severe, but said some would require hospitalisation.
The data stands in stark contrast with data from several recent studies that suggested Moderna's vaccine protection lasts longer than a similar shot from Pfizer and German partner BioNTech. Experts said the difference is likely due to Moderna's higher dose of messenger RNA (mRNA) and the slightly longer interval between the first and second shots. Both vaccines proved to be exceedingly effective at preventing illness in their large Phase III studies.
90 reports of suspected adverse reactions to Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine in S'pore
There have been 90 reports of suspected adverse reactions to the Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine, including five serious ones, as of Aug 31, the authorities announced on Thursday (Sept 16). With 168,439 doses of the vaccine administered in the same period, this amounts to a rate of 0.053 per cent for suspected cases, and about 0.003 per cent for serious ones.
In its fifth safety update on Covid-19 vaccines, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) also said 8,716,085 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccines have been administered under the national vaccination programme as of Aug 31. A total of 11,737 suspected adverse reactions - 0.13 per cent - were reported for vaccines under the national vaccination programme in the same period. Of these, 498 reports (0.006 per cent) were classified as serious adverse events.
The most commonly reported symptoms were consistent with those typically observed following vaccination. They include dizziness, shortness of breath, chest tightness or discomfort, palpitations, injection site reactions such as pain and swelling, fever and allergic reactions (such as rashes, itching, hives and swelling of eyelids, face and lips). These typically resolve within a few days, said HSA. Among the serious cases, the most frequently reported were anaphylaxis and other severe allergic reactions.
Singapore fully vaccinated 81% of its population. What’s next?
Back in 1959, publicity trucks roamed the streets of Singapore to encourage citizens to get vaccinated against smallpox. The nation has taken a page from history – it’s rolling out mobile vaccination drives and catchy jingles to persuade citizens to get their Covid-19 shots.
Singapore has fully vaccinated 81 per cent of its population from the virus, making it one of the most vaccinated countries in the world. “I don’t think there are many countries that have achieved such a high rate of vaccination,” says Ong Ye Kung, Singapore’s Minister for Health.
How did Singapore do it, and what’s next in the country’s reopening as infections rise? In an exclusive interview with GovInsider, Ong discusses lessons from the pandemic, the need for public trust in government, and mental health.
Tracking Singapore's Covid-19 vaccination progress
Note: Fully vaccinated individuals refer to those who have received their second doses and recovered people who have received at least one dose
A total of 8,867,170 doses have been administered in Singapore under the national vaccination programme as at Sept 12.
Both first and second doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty and Moderna vaccines are currently being administered.
In addition, 176,860 doses of other vaccines recognised in the World Health Organization’s Emergency Use Listing, which includes includes Sinovac-Coronavac, Sinopharm and AstraZeneca, have been administered as at Sept 12, covering 86,614 individuals.
COVID-19 - To Boost or not to Boost
How long does the protective immunity provided by the COVID-19 vaccines last? Do we need to “boost” immunity for continued protection? Recently, these questions have thrown science and politics into a contentious situation. The Biden administration has strongly recommended booster shots for COVID-19 beginning this month, with the caveat that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would have to approve. As a result, significant public and political pressure has been put on the FDA to fast-track approval of the booster. The FDA traditionally proceeds slowly and cautiously with insistence on rigorous supporting data and usually does not respond well to pressure.
This conflict recently led to the resignation of the FDA’s director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), Dr. Marion Gruber, and her deputy director, Dr. Philip Krause. Both are capable scientists with years of experience evaluating vaccines.
Unfortunately, the Biden administration appears not to have adhered to its plan to follow the science when making the recommendation for vaccine boosters. If vaccine-induced immunity is indeed waning, it would be prudent to ready the supply chain to administer millions of booster shots. However, if robust immunity remains sufficient to protect from severe disease, then this rush to boost wastes valuable resources and compromises the goal of ending the pandemic. This decision requires rigorous scientific evidence that protection afforded by the vaccine is indeed waning.
Comparing COVID-19 Vaccines: Timelines, Types and Prices
Getting a handle on the COVID-19 vaccine market and sales is definitely a moving target, with governments subsidizing manufacturing and distribution, and prices varying from country to country. Morningstar noted on May 3, 2021, that the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines account for more than 60% of the total COVID-19 market estimate in 2021 and 2022. The overall COVID-19 market. The overall market for COVID-19 drugs and vaccines is projected to peak this year at $67 billion, drop to $61 billion in 2022. Most likely, as more and more of the world’s population become vaccinated, Morningstar projects the overall COVID-19 market to be $8 billion annually beginning in 2023, but could drop as low as $500 million.
VACCINE DETAILS:
- Pfizer-BioNTech (Type: mRNA) - The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was sent to the FDA for possible Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) on Friday, November 20 and authorized on December 11. It is an mRNA vaccine that codes for the virus’s spike protein and is encapsulated in a lipid nanoparticle. Once injected, the cells churn out the spike protein, triggering the body’s immune system to recognize the virus. In Phase III trials, it demonstrated 95% efficacy. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine requires storage at about -94 degrees F, which requires specialized freezers. Now authorized in the U.S. for adolescents 12 to 15 years of age.
- Moderna (Type: mRNA) - On November 16, Moderna issued a preliminary data readout out of its COVID-19 vaccine, suggesting an efficacy rate of 94.5%. It was authorized by the FDA on December 19. Like the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, it is an mRNA vaccine. Unlike that vaccine, however, the Moderna vaccine is stable at 36 to 46 degrees F, about the temperature of a standard home or medical refrigerator, for up to 30 days and can be stored for up to six months at -4 degrees F.
- AstraZeneca (Type: Adenovirus-based) - On November 23, AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford announced high-level results from an interim analysis of their COVID-19 vaccine, AZD1222. The analysis was from the trials in the UK and Brazil and demonstrated efficacy of up to 90%. The vaccine was effective at preventing COVID-19, with no hospitalizations or severe cases in people receiving it. There were a total of 131 COVID-19 positive cases in the interim analysis group. One dosing regimen was given at a half dose and demonstrated 90% efficacy, followed by a full dose at least one month apart. Another dosing regimen demonstrated 62% efficacy when given two full doses at least one month apart. The combined analysis showed average efficacy of 70%. The AstraZeneca vaccine can be stored, transported and handled at normal refrigerated conditions, about 36-46 degrees F for at least six months and administered within existing healthcare settings.
- Johnson & Johnson (Type: Adenovirus-based) - Johnson & Johnson announced on November 15 that it initiated a second global Phase III trial of its Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. They expect to enroll up to 60,000 volunteers worldwide. Whereas all of the other three vaccine candidates require two doses about 28 days apart, the J&J vaccine only requires a single dose. Interim results from its Phase I/IIa trial demonstrated a single dose of the vaccine induced a robust immune response and was generally well-tolerated. The ENSEMBLE 2 study evaluated a two-dose regimen as well.
- Russia’s Sputnik V Vaccine (Type: Adenovirus-based) - Around November 11, Russia’s National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, which Russia authorized for use in August—ahead of even beginning a Phase III trial—claimed had an efficacy rate of 92% after the second dose. It was based on a first interim analysis 21 days after the first injection during the ongoing Phase III study. On November 24, the organization claimed 95% efficacy based on new preliminary data. On December 14, 2020, they reported efficacy of 91.4%. It also offered to share one of its two human adenoviral vectors with AstraZeneca to increase the efficacy of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
- Sinovac Biotech (Type: Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus) - On January 13, 2021, China-based Sinovac Biotech reported that its COVID-19 vaccine had a 50.38% efficacy in late-stage clinical trials in Brazil. The company’s clinical trials are demonstrating dramatically varying efficacy rates. In Indonesia, a local trial demonstrated an efficacy rate of 65%, but the trial had only 1,620 participants. Turkey reported an efficacy rate of 91.25% in December 2020. Another trial in Brazil run by a local partner, Butantan Institute, reported last week a 78% efficacy rate in mild cases while 100% against severe and moderate infections. It is an inactivated vaccine that uses inactivated SARS-CoV-2 viruses.
- Novavax (Type: Protein-based vaccine) - On January 28, 2021, Novavax announced that its COVID-19 vaccine, NVX-CoV2373, hit the primary endpoint with a vaccine efficacy of 89.3% in its Phase III trial in the UK. The vaccine is a protein-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate. It also has data from the South Africa Phase IIb trial and several Phase I, II and III trials. It has demonstrated high clinical efficacy against the UK and South Africa variants as well.
- CanSino Biologics (Type: Viral vector) - CanSino Biologics vaccine was co-developed with the Chinese military. It has an efficacy rate of 65.7% at preventing symptomatic cases. This is based on a multi-country analysis first posted on Twitter by Faisal Sultan, Pakistan’s health adviser, on February 8, 2021. The Phase III trial includes 30,000 participants and demonstrated 90.98% efficacy in preventing severe disease. It only requires a single shot. It has agreed to supply 35 million doses to Mexico and is in talks with Malaysia for 3.5 million shots. Pakistan is running one of the largest trials, and has contracted for 20 million shots. It is also working with the WHO for approval for the vaccine through the Covax program. It is also planning a trial with Russia to determine if swapping the second dose of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine with Can Sino would produce the same or better protection.
- Bharat Biotech (Type: Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus) - On April 22, 2021, India’s Bharat Biotech reported interim data from the Phase III trial of its COVID-19 vaccine COVAXIN, which demonstrated a 100% efficacy against severe infection. The vaccine was developed with seed strains from the Indian Council of Medical Research’s (ICMR) National Institute of Virology. It is a highly purified and inactivated vaccine. A second interim analysis suggested a 78% efficacy against mild, moderate and severe disease, and 70% efficacy against asymptomatic disease. Does not require sub-zero storage, no reconstitution requirement, and ready to use liquid in multi-dose vials, stable at 2-8 degrees C.
Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech or Sinovac? You Can Now Choose Your Preferred Vaccine in Singapore
Both vaccines also have similar efficacy rates with Moderna's being at 94 per cent and Pfizer's at 95 per cent. Sinovac's efficacy rate is still varied
If you are among those who would like to choose which Covid-19 vaccine to receive, take note that the Ministry of Health (MOH) has released the full list of vaccination centres and types of vaccines on their website.
Those eligible will be able to choose their vaccine according to the vaccination centre that offers their preferred type, be it Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech or Sinovac:
- MODERNA AND PFIZER-BIONTECH - The Moderna vaccine is currently available at 11 of the 38 vaccination centres in Singapore. All the other centres are supplied with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Currently, both Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech are very similar. They both use the new messenger RNA technology which injects parts of the virus's genetic material into the body. This then teaches cells to create a protein that will trigger an immune response. This will allow your body to produce antibodies to fight the virus. The reported side effects of both vaccines are also very similar with people typically reporting pain or swelling at the injection site, fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, fever, chills, nausea and joint pains.
- SINOVAC - Sinovac, on the other hand, is the latest vaccine to enter the market. Currently, there are 24 private clinics islandwide that have been selected to administer it. A single dose will cost you between $10 to $25 and you will need two doses. "As these vaccines are being provided to the providers at no cost, individuals should take note that the providers should not charge them for the vaccine cost. There should not be any additional costs (beyond the vaccination administration fees listed) charged by these providers," the Ministry Of Health (MOH) said. However, do note that because Sinovac is not part of the national vaccine programme, it will not be covered under the Vaccine Injury Financial Assistance Programme for Covid-19 Vaccination. Additionally, recipients of the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine will not be exempted from pre-event testing according to MOH.
Sinovac and Pfizer equally effective against Covid-19, says Dr Noor Hisham
Medical data from vaccine use showed that both Sinovac and Pfizer vaccines are equally effective against Covid-19, said Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah. - NSTP/MOHD ADAM ARININ
Medical data from vaccine use showed that both Sinovac and Pfizer vaccines are equally effective against Covid-19, said Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
In a Facebook post today, Dr Noor Hisham said on July 7, the New England Journal of Medicine published a report on the Sinovac experience in Chile from February to May 2021 on 4.2 million fully vaccinated individuals compared to 5.5 million unvaccinated residents, with the study also having documented 218,784 Covid-19 cases.
"Sinovac was found to reduce Covid-19 infection by 65.9 per cent, reduce hospitalisation by 87.5 per cent, reduce intensive care unit (ICU) admission by 90.3 per cent and reduce deaths by 86.3 percent," he said.
Sinovac COVID-19 Vaccine: All You Need to Know
How does the Sinovac vaccine work compared to the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines:
- The Sinovac vaccine uses an inactivated form of COVID-19 virus, where the viral particles are killed so that it cannot replicate. However, the surface spike protein of the virus particle is kept intact to trigger the body’s immune system to create antibodies to protect against the live virus in the event that the person is infected with COVID-19. Inactivated viruses are a tried and tested form of vaccine technology and have been traditionally used to create vaccines over the past century. Examples of inactivated virus vaccines include the flu, polio and hepatitis A vaccines.
- In contrast, the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines use a different form of vaccine technology. They are Messenger RNA vaccines – also known as mRNA vaccines – which are a new type of vaccine. Both vaccines are the first vaccines approved for use in humans using the mRNA technology. Instead of introducing an inactivated form of the COVID-19 virus into our bodies, mRNA vaccines give instructions to our cells to make a harmless spike protein which is found on the surface of COVID-19 virus particles. When this happens, our immune systems create antibodies that are used to protect against the live virus in the event that there is an infection.
What do we know about China's coronavirus vaccines?
As the global race to produce a Covid-19 vaccine continues, China appears to have made huge strides, with vaccines from two front-runners - Sinovac and Sinopharm - already making their way abroad. But what do we know about China's vaccines and how do they compare to those being developed elsewhere:
- How does the Sinovac vaccine work? The Beijing-based biopharmaceutical company Sinovac is behind the CoronaVac, an inactivated vaccine. It works by using killed viral particles to expose the body's immune system to the virus without risking a serious disease response.
- By comparison the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines being developed in the West are mRNA vaccines. This means part of the coronavirus' genetic code is injected into the body, triggering the body to begin making viral proteins, but not the whole virus, which is enough to train the immune system to attack.
"CoronaVac is a more traditional method [of vaccine] that is successfully used in many well known vaccines like rabies," Associate Prof Luo Dahai of the Nanyang Technological University told the BBC. "mRNA vaccines are a new type of vaccine and there is [currently] no successful example [of them] being used in the population," Prof Luo adds.
Those given Sinovac, Sinopharm or AstraZeneca jabs counted as fully vaccinated from 10 Aug
From next Tuesday (10 August), those in Singapore who receive COVID-19 jabs that are not under the national programme but are under the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) emergency use listing will also be recognised as fully-vaccinated two weeks after completing the vaccine regimen.
This means that those who received shots made by AstraZeneca, Covishield, Janssen or Johnson & Johnson, Sinopharm, and Sinovac will be eligible for the vaccination-differentiated safe management measures and be counted under Singapore's daily vaccination numbers, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Friday (6 August) during a virtual multi-ministry press conference.
"As our vaccination coverage increases...we are collectively more resilient, the consideration will change. What is important now is the difference between those vaccinated and non-vaccinated, and less so between different vaccines," said Ong.
More vaccines including Sinovac to be recognised
SINGAPORE'S vaccination rate is on track to hitting 70 per cent by National Day on Aug 9, with 67 per cent of the population having received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine as of Thursday. Those who have taken at least one jab now stands at 78 per cent of the population, and Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Friday that Singapore will have 80 per cent of people be fully vaccinated a month from today.
The government is adopting a "vaccination-differentiated" approach as it adjusts its safe management and border measures going forward. Fully vaccinated people will be able to engage in a wider range of activities - such as food and beverage dine-in for groups of up to five people from Aug 10 - compared to the unvaccinated.
With Singapore now having a higher vaccination coverage, MOH said it will recognise more Covid-19 vaccines in the World Health Organisation's Emergency Use Listing (WHO EUL). From Aug 10, those who are fully vaccinated with the WHO EUL vaccines such as Sinovac-CoronaVac, Sinopharm and AstraZeneca will be eligible for the new vaccination-differentiated safe management measures.
Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine to be allowed in Singapore under special access route after WHO approval
China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine can be administered in Singapore under the special access route after it was approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO), said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Wednesday (Jun 2).
MOH had announced on Monday that through the special access route, private healthcare institutions will be able to bring in unregistered COVID-19 vaccines.
These vaccines must be on WHO's emergency use listing and they include the ones from Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca and Sinopharm. The Sinovac vaccine was approved by the WHO on Tuesday.
MOH approves special access to Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine through private healthcare sector
Sinovac's Covid-19 vaccine will be allowed under the Special Access Route (SAR), said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Wednesday (June 2).
This follows the announcement by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday that it had approved the shot under its Emergency Use Listing.
In response to queries from The Straits Times, MOH said that given this latest development, the Sinovac product would be allowed under the SAR.
WHO approves Sinovac COVID shot in second Chinese milestone
The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday it has approved a COVID-19 vaccine made by Sinovac Biotech (SVA.O) for emergency use listing, paving the way for a second Chinese shot to be used in poor countries.
A WHO emergency listing is a signal to national regulators of a product's safety and efficacy and will allow the Sinovac shot to be included in COVAX, the global programme providing vaccines mainly for poor countries, which faces major supply problems due to curbs on Indian exports.
The WHO's independent panel of experts said in a statement it recommended Sinovac's vaccine for adults over 18. There was no upper age limit as data suggested it is likely to have a protective effect in older people.
World Health Organization approves China's Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use
The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved a Covid-19 vaccine made by Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac for emergency use.
The decision will allow CoronaVac to be used in WHO's vaccine-sharing program, COVAX, which seeks to provide equitable global access to immunizations.
China's Sinovac vaccine gets WHO emergency approval
The WHO said it prevented symptomatic disease in 51% of those vaccinated and prevented severe symptoms and hospitalisation in 100% of samples.
Some evidence and data gaps are still lacking though, according to WHO experts.
Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Sinovac: A look at three key COVID-19 vaccines
By the end of this week, people in the country worst-hit by COVID-19 could gain access to a second COVID-19 vaccine. On Tuesday (Dec 15), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) endorsed mRNA-1273 - the vaccine candidate made by American biotechnology company Moderna - as safe and effective. Singapore has also approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, with the first shipment expected by the end of the year. A third COVID-19 vaccine, developed by China's Sinovac Biotech, is also currently in late-stage trials. Indonesia already has 1.2 million doses of CoronaVac, the vaccine it has been testing since August. Here’s a look at how the three COVID-19 vaccines differ:
- PFIZER-BIONTECH (Type: mRNA) - The COVID-19 vaccine developed by US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech was the first COVID-19 vaccine to be approved by the US FDA for emergency use. How it works: The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine uses messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. mRNA vaccines teach our cells to make a protein that triggers an immune response inside our bodies. This is different from traditional vaccines which put a weakened or inactivated germ into our bodies.
- MODERNA (Type: mRNA) - The initial results from Moderna's vaccine were described a month ago by the US' leading expert on infectious diseases Anthony Fauci as "stunningly impressive". How it works: Just like the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the Moderna vaccine uses mRNA technology.
- SINOVAC (Type: Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus) - Developed by China's Sinovac Biotech, the vaccine, known as CoronaVac, is currently undergoing phase 3 clinical trials in places such as Brazil and Indonesia. How it works: Sinovac's vaccine uses inactivated vaccine technology, which utilises virus particles that have been killed to stimulate our bodies to produce an immune response. This vaccine is similar to the flu vaccine.
Watch out for misinformation about mRNA and inactivated virus COVID-19 vaccines
Misleading social media messages have been claiming that the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines – authorised by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) under the Pandemic Special Access Route (PSAR) – are unsafe and ineffective in protecting against COVID-19, including Variants of Concern (VOCs) such as the B16172 or “delta” variant. These messages also asserted that inactivated virus COVID-19 vaccines, like Sinovac, would provide superior protection, and should be offered to children instead. Let us examine the claims:
- Claim #1: mRNA vaccines are ineffective against COVID-19. Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccines continue to be highly efficacious, with efficacy rate at around 90%. This has been established by the Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination (EC19V) based on their continual review of global and local data. These two vaccines are also especially effective in protecting against severe COVID-19 disease and hospitalisation.
- Claim #2: mRNA vaccines are useless in protecting us against COVID-19 mutations. The mRNA vaccines are effective in protecting us against key VOCs, including the B16172 or “delta” variant. Studies in the UK demonstrated that two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine can provide around 80% protection against symptomatic COVID-19 infection with the delta variant. While further studies are required before drawing definitive conclusions, the available data globally indicates that substantial protection is preserved. The asymptomatic to mild infections detected locally with the delta variant in vaccinated persons is consistent with the global evidence that mRNA vaccines provides protection against symptomatic and severe disease.
- Claim #3 - mRNA vaccines are not safe. The mRNA vaccines have gone through rigorous evaluation by HSA and EC19V and have been assessed to be safe for use. They had been authorised by HSA under the Pandemic Special Access Route (PSAR) and included as part of our COVID-19 national vaccination programme. Like all vaccines, people who receive the COVID-19 vaccines may experience common side effects. Most of the side effects are mild or moderate, and usually get better within a few days. In very rare instances, persons may experience serious side effects, such as a severe allergic reaction to the mRNA vaccine (e.g., anaphylaxis). The currently available data also suggests that there may be a very small risk of myocarditis and pericarditis after the second dose of an mRNA vaccine, particularly in young men. However, these serious side effects are rare, and risks are mitigated with careful monitoring of symptoms and seeking medical attention early. Overall, the benefits of receiving the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, i.e., reduction in COVID-19 infections and severe complications even if infected, continue to outweigh the risks of vaccination. It is strongly recommended that medically eligible persons are vaccinated with them.
- Claim #4 - Inactivated virus vaccines, like Sinovac, can protect us better than mRNA. Sinovac, an inactivated virus vaccine, has shown variable protection across multiple international studies. The most complete analysis of the vaccine showed a vaccine efficacy of 51%. The protection of Sinovac against newer variants, such as the delta variant, and under real-world conditions remains unknown. On the other hand, global and local data has shown that the PSAR-authorised mRNA vaccines are able to protect against COVID-19 and its variants by reducing the severity of symptoms. The Sinovac vaccine has yet to meet the requirements for PSAR authorisation. HSA is currently still waiting for the additional safety and quality data from Sinovac for evaluation.
- Claim #5 – Children should be given Sinovac since the vaccine technology has proven to be safe. WHO does not recommend the use of Sinovac in persons below age 18 years even though it is put under its Emergency Use Listing (EUL) Procedure. As such, this is currently not an option for children and adolescents globally nor in Singapore under the Special Access Route (SAR). On 18 May 2021, HSA endorsed the use of Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine in children between 12 to 15 years old. This decision was made after the careful assessment of the safety and efficacy data from the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for persons of this age group.
US raises COVID-19 travel alert for Singapore to highest risk level
The United States on Monday (Oct 18) raised its COVID-19 travel advisory level for Singapore to the highest risk category, asking visitors to avoid travel to the country. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) adjusted its advisory for Singapore by one rung to Level 4, which indicates a “very high level of COVID-19”.
"Because of the current situation in Singapore, even fully vaccinated travellers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants," said CDC. The US' health protection agency said those who must travel to Singapore should be fully vaccinated, and that they should follow the country's recommendations or requirements, including wearing a mask and observing safe distancing measures.
The US Department of State issued a similar notice on Monday, urging people not to travel to Singapore due to COVID-19.
Possible Side Effects After Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine
COVID-19 vaccination will help protect people from getting COVID-19. Adults and children may have some side effects from the vaccine, which are normal signs that their body is building protection. These side effects may affect their ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Some people have no side effects, and allergic reactions are rare.
Serious side effects that could cause a long-term health problem are extremely unlikely following any vaccination, including COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccine monitoring has historically shown that side effects generally happen within six weeks of receiving a vaccine dose. For this reason, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) collected data on each of the authorized COVID-19 vaccines for a minimum of two months (eight weeks) after the final dose. CDC is continuing to monitor the safety of COVID-19 vaccines even now that the vaccines are in use.
The benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the known and potential risks. Rare cases of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the outer lining of the heart) in adolescents and young adults have been reported more often after getting the second dose than after the first dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.
Singapore approves Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine
Coronavirus vaccine: in Singapore, 432 report side effects but experts ‘reassured
Singapore has given more than 113,000 people the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, after which 432 suffered common side effects, including three people who had anaphylaxis, which is a rapid onset of severe allergic reactions. The data was released by the Ministry of Health on Thursday night as the country embarked on inoculating the general population, with those aged 70 and above getting their first shot on Wednesday. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is one of the 50 who has received their second shot of the vaccine.
The ministry said the three cases of anaphylaxis were “quickly resolved” by health care professionals, and had happened to individuals in their 20s and 30s who had a history of allergies, including allergic rhinitis and food allergies such as to shellfish. None had a history of anaphylaxis, which would have precluded them from the vaccine, and all have been discharged from hospital after a day’s observation or treatment. This puts Singapore’s incidence rate of anaphylaxis at about 2.7 per 100,000 doses administered, compared with other jurisdictions’ one to two per 100,000 doses administered. The ministry said initial variations in the incidence rate were expected given the numbers vaccinated in the island nation were relatively small.
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