BioNTech-Pfizer said Wednesday their vaccine showed 100 percent efficacy against the coronavirus in 12 to 15 year olds, as they eye approval for adolescents to get the jabs before the next school year. Phase 3 trials carried out on 2,260 adolescents in the United States “demonstrated 100 percent efficacy and robust antibody responses”, the companies … Read more
Hong Kong and Macau on Wednesday said they were suspending the use of Pfizer/BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine after being informed of a packaging problem with a batch of vials. “For the sake of precaution, the current vaccination must be suspended during the period of investigation,” Hong Kong’s government said in a statement. Both Chinese cities said their … Read more
In Part 2 of the ‘Ask Paul Anything‘ session live-streamed on his Facebook page, Professor Paul Tambyah, who is currently the Chairman of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) as well as a doctor and professor of infectious diseases, answered further audience questions on COVID-19. This was a follow-up to Part 1 last week. Broadly, audience’s concerns … Read more
In the wake of reports over the weekend that the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) has given a member of staff the equivalent to 5 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine due to human error, it is notable that none of the senior members of Government has addressed this mistake publicly. In addition, the error … Read more
Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) director of medical services Kenneth Mak on Friday (22 January) said that a number of “adverse events” have been reported by people who have received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in Singapore, but the majority of them are “very mild”. Speaking at a virtual COVID-19 multi-ministry taskforce press conference yesterday, Prof … Read more
There will be “tangible benefits” for those who choose to get the COVID-19 vaccine, while those who choose not to be vaccinated may need to go through “more frequent tests” and “other additional requirements”, said Education Minister and COVID-19 taskforce co-chair Lawrence Wong on Thursday (7 January). Mr Wong told CNA in an interview that “transmission risk … Read more
Singapore expresses desire to become a distribution and transportation hub for the COVID-19 vaccine to the region, Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Monday (21 December). He explained that the city-state has the capabilities to ensure the process is safe and that there is sufficient capacity. “Some countries, of course, would prefer direct delivery … Read more
Several infectious diseases experts believed that at least two-thirds, or 80 per cent of Singapore’s population, would need to receive COVID-19 vaccinations in order for the community to achieve herd immunity against the virus. This came after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s announcement on 14 December that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for … Read more
A healthcare worker at the Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau, Alaska, has reportedly developed a severe allergic reaction after getting the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday (15 Dec) despite not having a history of allergic reactions. The middle-aged woman had to be hospitalised overnight for observation due to the symptoms, as reported by NBC. Dr … Read more