Congratulations to this unfortunate Sinkie who struck the vaccination "lottery".
Booster Vaccination : Did it cause my seizures?
Its been almost two weeks since I got my booster vaccination and till today, this question lingers in my mind, with no definitive answer. It felt as if a brick had hit my head and the pain kept gnawing at me, never going away.
I would like to firstly thank each and every one of you who had reached out to me during this difficult period and had given me words of encouragement and support, prayed for me and my family. From the bottom of my heart, I really feel loved and thankful.
The main reason why I kept actively updating my IG stories @letsaskmama was because I am genuinely worried that I might eventually end up unable to recall what happened or is currently happening. Truth be told, I still have pockets of memories missing. In fact, regarding the video I created once I was pushed into the recovery ward, I had zero recollection of doing that till today. But I'm glad I did so because through that video I learned that I had 4 seizures.
Apparently I had conversations with Le Cha, sister in law and my parents that I couldn't for the love of god remember. I don't remember Le Cha coming to the hospital either, the food I had while waiting for the ward to be made ready, nothing, but thanks to me posting it on IG, at least I know what transpired then and there. I guess my instincts just kicked in to record whatever's happening for my own good.
For the record, I would like to emphasize that I am Pro-vaccination and like a good citizen, I went to get all my shots as mandated and followed through the processes with nary a complaint. I am writing everything down pertaining to what had actually happened ad interim cause it seems like I'm gradually losing it.
Booster Dose Required to Maintain Fully Vaccinated Status
Vaccination, especially boosters, retain substantial protection against severe disease for COVID-19 and against the Omicron variant. Nevertheless, the protection from the primary series vaccination wanes with time and is substantially reduced six months after the last dose in the primary vaccination series. International data has also shown that protection against Omicron variant from a primary vaccination series is weaker compared to that against the Delta variant, while boosters increase the protection against infection and severe illness from Omicron.
In view of these, the Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination (EC19V) has recommended that persons aged 18 years and above who completed a primary vaccination series should receive a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine no later than 270 days after the last dose in the primary vaccination series. This will also apply to individuals who received recognised non-mRNA primary vaccination regimens offered under the National Vaccination Programme, such as three doses of the Sinovac-CoronaVac, or three doses of Sinopharm vaccines, as well as regimens of other WHO EUL vaccines. For this group, most will not be due for booster for some time. We expect the Novavax vaccine, which is a non-mRNA vaccine, to be available to them as an option by then.
Sinovac just got included in the national COVID-19 vaccination program, but.....
All individuals who have taken two doses of the Sinovac vaccine will be regarded as fully vaccinated for four months after the second dose, or Dec 31 this year, whichever is later.
Immunocompromised persons, seniors to start getting Covid-19 booster vaccine shots in coming weeks: MOH
SINGAPORE — Immunocompromised persons and seniors will be eligible for booster Covid-19 vaccination shots starting sometime this month, depending on when they had their earlier two doses. This is to ensure that they are sufficiently protected from severe illness from the coronavirus, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Friday (Sept 3).
MOH said that the expert committee on Covid-19 vaccination had recommended this move based on the efficacy of booster doses administered globally.
At a press conference on Friday, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, who co-chairs the Government's Covid-19 task force, said that while vaccines still offer protection against infection, the strength of the protection will “come down as antibodies wane several months after the vaccination”.
In its statement, MOH said that those who are moderately to severely immunocompromised will receive a third dose of the same messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine two months after their second dose as part of their primary vaccination course.
This is because immunocompromised people have a “blunted immune response to vaccination and are also at a higher risk of severe illness from Covid-19”, it added.
The three-dose programme will ensure that they have an “adequate immune response”.
The expert committee elaborated in a statement later that there are studies showing that a third dose “increases the likelihood that immunocompromised persons develop a robust protective immune response”.
The immunocompromised include cancer patients on active treatment such as chemotherapy, those with end-stage kidney disease on dialysis, and those with advanced or untreated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
The committee added that immunocompromised people would be referred to receive the third dose by their doctors, who will have “the best understanding of their medical condition”.
BOOSTER SHOTS FOR ELDERS
For seniors aged 60 years and above and residents of aged-care facilities, they should receive a booster dose of a pandemic special access route mRNA vaccine — the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines — six to nine months after completing their two-dose vaccination regimen.
The first batch of seniors aged 60 and above and who completed their two-dose regimen in March will be eligible for the third dose in September.
“Seniors are also at risk of severe infection and may develop a lower immune response from their two-dose vaccination regimen,” MOH said.
The ministry added that the booster shot will ensure higher levels of protection from infection and continued high levels of protection against severe disease.
It will also reduce the possibility of spikes in infections and more people falling severely ill.
The expert committee said that seniors may develop a lower immune response to the initial two doses of vaccines, and their immunity has also been observed to decline over time.
“A booster dose will increase the level of immunity and ensure that a high level of protection from severe disease is maintained across a longer period.”
More details on the roll-out of the booster shots will be announced at a later date.
Some workers who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19 feel like they are in limbo as they wait to see what vaccine-related rules their employers might introduce, such as making them pay for regular testing.
Some of them told TODAY that they are prepared to hand in their resignations and find other jobs should the rules become too stringent.
Earlier this week, Singapore’s tripartite partners had issued an advisory on how bosses can keep their workplaces safe from Covid-19.
Among other things, it urged all employers here to adopt a regime that either sees their workers fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or requires unvaccinated employees to undergo regular testing.
........One finance sector worker, who wished to be known only as Mrs Lee, said that her boss told her she cannot return to the office because she is not vaccinated and will have to work from home until she does.
The 39-year-old said that she does not want to get vaccinated because she is concerned about the possible long-term side effects of Covid-19 vaccines.
“I feel that vaccination status should not be used in this aspect to deem who is worthy to work in the office,” she said.
READY TO RESIGN
Though their employers have not officially announced the full suite of vaccine-related measures they plan to introduce, some of the unvaccinated workers told TODAY that they were prepared to quit their jobs and find new ones if the rules became too stringent.
Mrs Lee, the finance sector worker, said that even though she has worked at her current job for 10 years and it pays well, she would resign if her employer requires her to take frequent Covid-19 tests and pay for them herself.
“It’ll be unbearable if I have to pay for the tests regularly out of my own pocket. I don’t see why I should when it should be the vaccinated workers who should be tested regularly because they may not show symptoms of having Covid-19 and hence pose a bigger threat.”
Another worker from the non-profit sector, who wanted to be known only as Mr Chan, 41, said that he is prepared to negotiate with his employer when the company requires unvaccinated people to get tested regularly from October.
He opposes the testing regime because he is believes that the chemical ethylene oxide used to make Covid-19 tests is carcinogenic and harmful to humans, though scientists have said that all residue of the chemical is removed from the tests before they can be used, and they have been rigorously tested to be safe to use.
Mr Chan also believes that it is unfair to place the burden of costs of the tests on unvaccinated workers, especially low-wage earners.
He is willing to be redeployed or have his job redesigned if that is what it takes to be exempted from the testing regime.
However, if his employer refuses to budge, Mr Chan said that he would quit his job and find a new one.
This will certainly give Modi's countrymen fresh impetus to flood Singapore and fill up positions vacated by the unvaxxed either through coercion or of their own volition.
Young people’s deaths after Pfizer vaccines are new worry
Deaths following vaccine jabs among people in their 20s continue to be reported in Korea, adding fresh concerns as inoculations for younger people start Thursday.
A 21-year-old female college student died one week after getting her first dose of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine in Gongju, South Chungcheong on Monday, according to police reports. She had no known underlying medical condition, her family said.
According to local police, the woman received her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Aug. 16 and apparently had no particular side effects. According to her family, she studied until late at night with friends, and was captured on CCTV going to a convenience store at 2 a.m. on the day of her death.
She was found dead in her residence around 2:25 p.m. Monday by the house owner, who received a call from her parents saying she was not answering their phone calls.
She had purple spots on her body when she was found, and the family and the police requested an autopsy from the National Forensic Service to find the cause of death.
“My younger sister was preparing for the teacher certification exam so our family always worried about her health, and continuously contacted her every few hours and checked her condition after she got her vaccine,” a petitioner who claimed to be her sibling wrote in a petition on the Blue House website on Monday.
“There were no signs of worries or stress [in the posts] on her blog that indicated she was planning to take her own life,” the petitioner wrote. “Also, the testimonies of relatives and the family’s opinion agree that this is not a suicide case at all, and that she had been very healthy.”
Similar post-vaccination deaths of the young have been reported in the country.
A man in his late 20s died Sunday, 20 days after receiving a Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine in Jeju.
The man received his first dose on Aug. 2. He complained of chest pain, a common post-vaccine symptom, and visited a hospital on Aug. 22 but died after symptoms worsened.
Working at an airport in Jeju, he was given priority status in the vaccination scheme and received the shot in early August, a health official at the Jeju Provincial Government told the Korea JoongAng Daily.
“He was known to have no underlying diseases,” the official said, yet he wondered whether a causal connection between the vaccine and his death will be acknowledged because of the 20 days that elapsed.
A healthy young mailman, who was 25-year-old, was found dead on Aug. 10, three days following his second Pfizer jab.
After getting the second dose of the vaccine, the man complained of muscle pain. His mother tried to wake him up for work around 5 a.m. on Aug. 10, but was dead.
An online user who claimed to be his sister posted a petition to the Blue House. She wrote, “My younger brother had a medical checkup in July around the time he got his first Pfizer shot, and except for slightly elevated levels of liver enzymes, [the results showed] he was very healthy.
“My family can’t help but raise suspicions that the vaccine is the cause of death, as he died three days after his second Pfizer shot," the petitioner added.
According to his family, a first autopsy failed to ascertain the cause of death, and they were told that further results will come out one to two months later through an investigation by the KDCA and the National Forensic Service.
Relatives of the deceased worry that the government will not acknowledge that the deaths were caused by Covid-19 vaccines.
Currently, Korea only acknowledges three types of symptoms as post-vaccination side effects: anaphylaxis, or severe allergic reaction; unusual blood clots with low blood platelets termed thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, or TTS, that can be caused by a viral vector vaccine like AstraZeneca or Janssen; and inflammation of the heart or its lining called myocarditis and pericarditis that can be reported after mRNA vaccines like Pfizer or Moderna.
As of Monday, the KDCA received 492 reports of fatalities after vaccinations — and only two cases have been officially acknowledged as vaccine-caused deaths.
Korea’s Covid-19 Vaccination Damage Investigation Team acknowledged a man in his 30s died due to TTS related to his AstraZeneca inoculation, and a Pfizer recipient in his 20s died due to myocarditis.
“My family is still waiting for additional results from the autopsy, but a lot of people are telling us that the government will say there was no causality,” the family of the mailman wrote. “If we cannot trust the government in this war-like situation, what and who can we rely on?”
Korea will start offering Covid-19 vaccinations to the general public aged 18 to 49 this Thursday, either Pfizer or Moderna’s vaccine depending on the vaccine supply schedule.
“We advise you not to feel pressured or scared by [vaccine side effects] as the benefits of Covid-19 vaccines outweigh the risks,” Cho Eun-hee, an official from the Covid-19 Vaccination Damage Investigation Team said Tuesday.
As concerns are growing among young people, experts say the government should clarify the exact cause of death and present the medical examination method for each side effect cases.
“For people in their 20s, side effects from vaccines mostly don’t lead to death,” said Dr. Chun Eun-mi, a professor of respiratory medicine at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital. “But the cause of deaths must be examined and announced to allay the public anxiety.”
“In a situation where the government is asking people to get vaccinated,” said Dr. Kim Woo-joo, a professor of infectious diseases at Korea University Guro Hospital, "individuals cannot check the safety of each vaccine. The government must inform the medical staff and the public of the safety information and how to receive treatment for any symptoms."
Experts advise heart patients or people with family histories of heart disease to get a checkup before getting the vaccine. People who develop chest pain, fever or shortness of breath within a week after vaccination should immediately visit a hospital.
Chun also recommended young people get tested for Covid-19 with a home testing kit on the day of getting their vaccines.
“As there are many Covid-19 patients, especially among young people who are often asymptomatic or have weak symptoms, many tend to think the side effects are from the vaccine, yet they are actually from the virus,” Chun said.
“Side effects could be worse in someone with Covid-19, with the vaccine immune response and the virus symptoms mixed together,” she explained. Using home testing kits could prevent such cases if people who test positive cancel their vaccinations.
Meanwhile, the country saw 1,509 more Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, with the total caseload coming to 239,287.
Family demands compensation over man’s death after vaccination
KUALA LUMPUR: Family members of a disabled man have demanded compensation from the government over his death, which they allege was due to a Covid-19 vaccine.
At a press conference today, Tan Yee Ching said his brother Yee Tom, 58, died on Aug 1, hours after he received his second dose of the vaccine.
“His blood pressure shot up to 260 and we were shocked by it.
“He was on medication for high blood pressure. But his blood pressure had never gone up so high before that.”
The family subsequently sent Yee Tom to hospital for treatment.
In the death certificate, it was stated that the man had died of “hypertensive emergency with massive intracranial bleeding”.
The family later lodged a police report over his death.
Yee Ching said his late brother was a healthy person, despite suffering a stroke and becoming disabled eight years ago.
“He lived a stress-free life. We (the brothers) took care of him after his stroke.
“We had also declared his health condition before his vaccination. We have nothing to hide,” he said.
To a question if the Tans had sought a post-mortem on his remains, Yee Ching said the family had not done so.
“At that time, we were all in mourning and shocked that my brother had passed away,” he said.
Federal Territories DAP public complaints bureau chairman Yew Jia Haur said they would assist the Tan family to apply for compensation under the government’s special vaccine injury scheme.
He advised others who faced a similar situation to make sure they asked the hospital to conduct a post-mortem.
The government had announced earlier this year that a scheme had been set up to compensate those who suffered adverse side effects from the vaccination.
A payout of up to RM500,000 will be given to the family of vaccine recipients who died or suffered loss of abilities.
Up to RM50,000 will also be handed over to those who suffered severe side effects and were hospitalised after receiving the vaccines.
FMT has reached out to the science, technology and innovation ministry for a response.
New Zealand reports first death linked to Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine
WELLINGTON, Aug 30 (Reuters) - New Zealand reported its first recorded death linked to U.S. drugmaker Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, the health ministry said on Monday, after a woman suffered a rare side effect leading to inflammation of her heart muscle.
The news of the death comes as the country battles an outbreak of the Delta variant after nearly six months of being virus free. It followed a review by an independent panel monitoring the safety of the vaccines.
"This is the first case in New Zealand where a death in the days following vaccination has been linked to the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine," the ministry said in a statement, without giving the woman's age.
The vaccine monitoring panel attributed the death to myocarditis, a rare, but known, side effect of the Pfizer vaccine, the ministry added.
Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle that can limit the organ's ability to pump blood and can cause changes in heartbeat rhythms.
In response, Pfizer said it recognised there could be rare reports of myocarditis after vaccinations, but such side effects were extremely rare.
"Pfizer takes adverse events that are potentially associated with our vaccine very seriously," it told Reuters.
"We closely monitor all such events and collect relevant information to share with worldwide regulatory authorities."
The health ministry said other medical issues at the same time could have influenced the outcome after vaccination.
But the vaccine's benefit outstripped risks from side effects, it added.
"The benefits of vaccination with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine continue to greatly outweigh the risk of both COVID-19 infection and vaccine side effects, including myocarditis."
New Zealand has provisionally approved use of the Pfizer/BioNTech, Janssen and AstraZeneca vaccines, but only the Pfizer produced vaccine has been approved for rollout to the public.
Monday's 53 new cases took New Zealand's tally of infections in the current outbreak to 562, amid a nationwide lockdown enforced this month to limit spread of the Delta variant.
I'm vaccinated, but my boyfriend isn't. This is what happens when there are differentiated measures.
PERSPECTIVE: On Aug. 6, the Multi-Ministry Taskforce announced that, along with relaxing some safe distancing measures, Singapore would begin vaccination-differentiated measures from Aug. 10. But what happens when one party in the relationship has not gotten their vaccination yet?
Being fully vaccinated since June this year, I was thrilled to finally be able to eat out, after what seemed like ages of dealing with take-aways and deliveries.
But my initial excitement was quickly dampened when I realised that I wouldn’t be able to enjoy any of these perks with my boyfriend, who refuses to get vaccinated (with Pfizer or Moderna, at least).
Our different views on the vaccine,and subsequently our decisions on whether to take it or not, have never really been a problem — up till now.
Over the last couple of weeks, I found myself becoming increasingly annoyed at him for what seemed like him holding us back from enjoying dates together.
Our prior discussions about this issue haven’t always been amicable, and the issue is something that we are still grappling with.
We sat down for a (much calmer) conversation about his decision, and the potential impact of this decision on our relationship. Here's how our conversation went.
Me: When did you first decide that you weren’t going to get vaccinated? How did you come to this decision?
Boyfriend: I think I first decided when the Pfizer vaccine was undergoing development and when I saw the haste at which it was being developed.
I felt uneasy because there wasn't enough data to support taking mRNA vaccines. My main concern is that you don’t know what the long-term effects are and that it seems rather pointless to be taking such a vaccine when you could put it off and get a better vaccine in the future.
I would say I’m definitely more inclined to take non-mRNA vaccines (such as Sinovac, Sinopharm, or Novavax).
Did you consider how your decision to not get vaccinated would affect me, or our relationship?
I mean I did consider it, of course. But I felt that it wouldn’t make much of a difference to our dates. Whether we go to a restaurant or a hawker centre, I don’t feel like it would affect the quality of our dates as much because we’re still spending time with each other.
Like, I don’t feel that there’s much that we can’t do, except for going out to restaurants, because I’m not vaccinated. I didn’t feel like that would be a major issue.
I mean I definitely felt a bit sian because I felt like we were being held back from doing a lot of things.
Like what?
Like eating out, for example. Going out to a new restaurant is something that we like to do on dates.
And also because of the measures a month before, we’ve had to dabao food or eat at home for so long. Now that the measures are lifted for vaccinated people, it just feels extra sian that I won’t be able to do that with you. Especially when I see everyone else being able to go out.
I understand that. I’m sorry, but what can I do?
Get vaccinated lor *laughs*.
No thank you!
Actually, why do you trust Sinovac, Sinopharm and Novavax more than Pfizer and Moderna?
In general, I think that these types of vaccines are tried and tested, compared to mRNA vaccines. And that’s a given, right? Because we understand the technology and the long-term side effects of whole-virus and protein vaccines, but not mRNA vaccines.
I don’t think I would be opposed to an mRNA vaccine, like Pfizer, for example, if there were long-term data on it. But you just wouldn’t have that data until at least five years from now.
Did you feel like I wasn’t being understanding when I was expressing my frustration towards you about your decision not to get vaccinated?
Yes definitely, I felt annoyed that you weren’t being understanding towards me. I felt like you didn’t really understand my thought process behind why I didn’t want to get it. I would’ve liked for you to accept my decision.
Oh yeah, for sure la, I thought that your decision-making process was flawed. I thought that you didn’t wanna get vaccinated because you read too many conspiracy theories.
Yeah, I was definitely annoyed by that.
Do you think we’ve been able to respect each other’s decisions about whether we want to get vaccinated?
I know I’ve respected your decision just fine; I never had an issue with it. I’m all for people getting the vaccine if they want. You want to get the vaccine just get la, just don’t ask me to get it.
I don't have a moral angle here. Take it or not, it's up to you.
But then how do you reconcile your own hesitancy towards getting the vaccine and my decision to get it?
When it comes to the potential side effects, I am concerned about you, for sure. I'll be quite sad if you were to suffer any side effects. But I can understand your decision to take the vaccine. It’s your decision, I don’t have a problem with it.
Do you think my decision-making process was flawed, then?
I don’t think it was flawed, but I think you could have afforded to wait. Because what has the vaccine afforded you? There’s nothing you have done from the time you’ve gotten the vaccine till now, that you couldn’t have done because you were vaccinated. Correct?
I’ve been able to go out to restaurants, and meet my (vaccinated) friends.
Okay, fair. But I definitely think you could’ve afforded to wait another six months, see how things pan out, see what other developments there are, and then come to a decision.
I think that you not getting vaccinated as a personal decision is fine. You are probably at a lower risk of getting Covid-19 because you aren’t working in industries where you are constantly exposed to people, nor are you typically around people who might be exposed to the virus. Ultimately, I was more annoyed at the fact that we can’t go out.
Yeah I don’t recall you that ever told me to take it because of my safety or whatever. I think most of our arguments centred around the going out issue.
What about not being able to travel together?
I remember we had this conversation way back, about how there are going to be vaccine passports or travel restrictions for unvaccinated people in the future. Regarding how we weren’t going to be able to travel together, and I asked you, “Are you okay with that? That you can’t travel with me, even though I really want to go on a holiday with you?” Do you remember that conversation?
Yeah, I just told you to go by yourself.
But I wanted to go with you. So you were okay with not going on holidays with me?
Yeah. I mean, I meant it.
*Laughs*
I mean it’s not that I didn’t wanna go with you, but it’s that I can’t. And I am willing to make that sacrifice.
But you’re sacrificing an experience for the both of us. Did you consider how I would feel about not being able to go out or travel with my boyfriend?
I did la, but I was more concerned about my safety. I definitely understand where you’re coming from. It’s just that I chose to value my safety more.
So it’s more like we had our own cost-benefit analyses, when it came to deciding whether we should get vaccinated or not.
Yeah exactly, we both prioritise things a little differently. So you prioritise being able to go out, travel, and do all these things, and you place less importance on the potential long-term side effects.
Whereas I prioritise my long-term health, and I care less about going out. I’m a homebody.
And by the way, I’m not doubting that the vaccines work, they do work. It’s just that I don’t think I should be taking a vaccine that could be bad for me in the long run.
Now that the restrictions have been announced, were there any situations where we had to face the consequences of the both of us not being vaccinated? Do you feel it's worth it?
I don’t think there have been any major consequences. Okay, we can’t go to restaurants, or (vaccinated-only) cinemas, but that’s about it, I feel. There’s nothing that made me think “Wah, I really wish I was vaccinated”.
I think also that’s because we’ve found other ways to accommodate your decision.
Yeah, like the picnics, hawker centres, or hanging out at home. So I still don’t feel like it’s a big deal.
What about stuff like concerts that I want to go to with you?
That one a bit bopian (no choice) la, you have to go without me. Aiya, but who’s touring now, who’s coming to Singapore now anyways?
I don’t know, maybe in like four months’ time?
Well, maybe. If that’s really the case, then the pre-event swab rule should still apply. I’ll just go get swabbed, it’s not a big deal. If I really want to go for something I’ll definitely be willing to get swabbed.
What do you think our path forward looks like, both ideologically and logistically?
Do you plan on getting vaccinated? Do you think that this difference in opinion will continue to come up as an issue in our relationship, and in what cases?
I think it would come up again if the measures were changed. Like if, for instance, the situation gets worse, and they don’t allow unvaccinated people to visit hawker centres, then I guess it would be an issue.
I do plan on getting vaccinated, eventually. I’m looking at good vaccine alternatives, so given a good alternative, I would take it.
Vaccines like Sinopharm and Novavax seem pretty good to me, so when they become available in Singapore, I would be willing to take them.
I don’t think our path would be that affected in the long run, because I see myself getting vaccinated eventually. By the time travel comes up, I see myself getting vaccinated by then.
So I guess in the meantime we’ll just live with this current arrangement? Until the vaccines that you think are okay become available here?
Yeah, it seems like it.
Do you foresee that the next couple of months will be hard?
Well I think there might be frustrations on your end, if there’s some things we can’t do together. But *laughs* hopefully, it won’t be too bad. Hopefully we’ll be able to work around what it is we want to do.
Ms Venessa Chua, 33, is among those not fully vaccinated because of health reasons. She suffers from an autoimmune condition and was hospitalised for 10 days after suffering a rare reaction to her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine last month.
"The doctors used strong steroid treatment to lower my body's immune response to the Pfizer vaccine, which was starting to attack my liver and bone marrow," she explains, adding that they are reviewing her options for a non-mRNA booster.
This means that, for now, she cannot dine in at a restaurant with her husband Kenneth Koh, 35, an aerospace quality manager, and their one-year-old son, Elijah, unless she pays beforehand for a negative pre-event Covid-19 result from an approved test provider.
However, she is taking the situation in her stride.
"The restrictions feel like a reasonable compromise in order to allow the country to reopen, while trying to protect the public from Covid-19. As I am still vulnerable to Covid-19, I am already taking steps to protect myself so the restrictions have little impact on my daily life," she reasons.
"Mostly, I miss meeting my friends in large groups, but I do understand the risks of attending big gatherings. Even if the vaccine did work for me, I would probably still be avoiding large crowds."
The banking executive works from home unless she has to meet clients and visits the hospital every three days for ongoing check-ups. She does not feel "discriminated against" so far and has been heartened by the reactions from those near and dear to her.
"During this time, I have received messages of support from friends and family who are worried for me. While I have been missing out on gatherings at nice restaurants, everyone has been really understanding and they occasionally bring takeaway food to my home. This allows me to avoid crowded areas during meal times."
She adds: "I understand that my adverse reaction to the Pfizer vaccine is a rare occurrence. As much as it was a frightening ordeal for me, I would still encourage others to get vaccinated to protect themselves and the people around them."
Wtf she has to visit the hospital every three days for check-ups......imagine the amount of time and money wasted on those trips. Hopefully she qualifies for the VIFAP.
‘Is it anti-vax to be concerned?’: Magazine editor reports changes to period after Covid jab, the latest in over 30,000 UK women
At least 30,304 British women have disclosed changes to their menstrual cycle after getting vaccinated against Covid-19. An editor for The Spectator is one of the most recently affected, and says many more are afraid to come out.
Lara Prendergast, an executive editor at London's Spectator magazine, raised some concerning questions in a column on Thursday after reporting that she had been affected since receiving her first Pfizer dose in May.
Noting that it is an “uncomfortable” and sensitive topic to discuss – indicating that the true number of women with period-related vaccine side effects could be far greater than the 30,304 documented – Prendergast revealed that her cycle has not been right since she was vaccinated months ago.
“Millions of British women have been jabbed, so 30,304 reports will be a tiny proportion: a negligible number, you might say. But it doesn't seem negligible if you're one of those women” she wrote, adding that friends have told her “they've also been affected” but “didn't report it either” due to the topic being both awkward and sensitive, and because of fears of being branded an ‘anti-vaxxer’.
“Is it ‘anti-vaxx’ to be concerned that these jabs may be having an effect on our menstrual cycles?” Prendergast questioned, before claiming that a women's health doctor had told her it is not exactly normal “for vaccines to affect periods in such a way.”
Prendergast also expressed concern that “if the jabs are affecting so many women's periods, who knows what else might be going on,” noting that millions of women can only “hope and trust” that the medical officials and influencers who are pushing for young women to get vaccinated are right about the allegedly low risks involved.
Though she acknowledged that officials, such as Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) President Dr. Edward Morris, have assured women that it would be impossible for the vaccines to affect a woman's fertility, Prendergast pointed out that most women do “associate their periods with their fertility,” and that side effects are thus extremely alarming to those who experience them.
“A month after my second jab, I make a note that my latest cycle is messed up, once again,” she concluded in the column.
The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has advised concerned women that menstrual issues are “mostly transient in nature” and that “there is no evidence to suggest that Covid-19 vaccines will affect fertility and the ability to have children.”
RCOG Vice President Dr Jo Mountfield has also said that though “changes to periods can be concerning,” it appears “most women's menstrual cycles return to normal after one to two cycles.”
Menstrual cycle changes do not appear on the list of side effects given to Brits before they receive a Covid-19 vaccine in the UK.
The UK government announced on Monday that the MHRA was reviewing “suspected side effects of menstrual disorders and unexpected vaginal bleeding following vaccination against Covid-19 in the UK.”
This brings to mind Alfonso Cuarón's Children of Men: first the pandemic struck, years later women across the world miscarried one after another......inexplicably there came a point in time when no single human could give birth ever again.
He is currently undergoing inpatient rehabilitation and can perform his activities of daily living without assistance, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a statement on Monday (Aug 16).
"He will likely be discharged in the coming weeks, but will likely require outpatient rehabilitation for some time before he can return to school and resume other activities," it said.
The medical team will continue his treatment and monitor his condition, it added.
The 16-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest on July 3, six days after receiving the vaccine. He had developed acute severe myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle, which led to the cardiac arrest.
MOH said the myocarditis was likely a serious adverse event caused by the vaccine, which may have been aggravated by the youth's strenuous lifting of weights and high consumption of caffeine through energy drinks and supplements.
The youth and his family will get a one-time payment of $225,000 under the VIFAP.
"The independent clinical panel appointed to assess and adjudicate the VIFAP application found that while he has made good improvement, because his condition was severe and critical, he will require treatment and rehabilitation for some time yet to continue his recovery," MOH said.
Sad sia.....
Congratulations to this unfortunate Sinkie who struck the vaccination "lottery".
Booster Vaccination : Did it cause my seizures?
Its been almost two weeks since I got my booster vaccination and till today, this question lingers in my mind, with no definitive answer. It felt as if a brick had hit my head and the pain kept gnawing at me, never going away.
I would like to firstly thank each and every one of you who had reached out to me during this difficult period and had given me words of encouragement and support, prayed for me and my family. From the bottom of my heart, I really feel loved and thankful.
The main reason why I kept actively updating my IG stories @letsaskmama was because I am genuinely worried that I might eventually end up unable to recall what happened or is currently happening. Truth be told, I still have pockets of memories missing. In fact, regarding the video I created once I was pushed into the recovery ward, I had zero recollection of doing that till today. But I'm glad I did so because through that video I learned that I had 4 seizures.
Apparently I had conversations with Le Cha, sister in law and my parents that I couldn't for the love of god remember. I don't remember Le Cha coming to the hospital either, the food I had while waiting for the ward to be made ready, nothing, but thanks to me posting it on IG, at least I know what transpired then and there. I guess my instincts just kicked in to record whatever's happening for my own good.
For the record, I would like to emphasize that I am Pro-vaccination and like a good citizen, I went to get all my shots as mandated and followed through the processes with nary a complaint. I am writing everything down pertaining to what had actually happened ad interim cause it seems like I'm gradually losing it.
A lot more at https://www.letsaskmamas.com/post/booster-vaccination-did-it-cause-my-seizures
To jab no. infinity and beyond!
Booster Dose Required to Maintain Fully Vaccinated Status
Vaccination, especially boosters, retain substantial protection against severe disease for COVID-19 and against the Omicron variant. Nevertheless, the protection from the primary series vaccination wanes with time and is substantially reduced six months after the last dose in the primary vaccination series. International data has also shown that protection against Omicron variant from a primary vaccination series is weaker compared to that against the Delta variant, while boosters increase the protection against infection and severe illness from Omicron.
In view of these, the Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination (EC19V) has recommended that persons aged 18 years and above who completed a primary vaccination series should receive a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine no later than 270 days after the last dose in the primary vaccination series. This will also apply to individuals who received recognised non-mRNA primary vaccination regimens offered under the National Vaccination Programme, such as three doses of the Sinovac-CoronaVac, or three doses of Sinopharm vaccines, as well as regimens of other WHO EUL vaccines. For this group, most will not be due for booster for some time. We expect the Novavax vaccine, which is a non-mRNA vaccine, to be available to them as an option by then.
https://www.moh.gov.sg/news-highlights/details/strengthening-our-readiness-to-live-with-the-omicron-variant
Kaoz MOH has been pestering me of late to get my booster shot, just leeceived 2 SMSes not too long ago, now kenna a third reminder!
Cost of approved vaccines; nothing is "free" becauee taxpayers will eventually have to foot the bill.
🤣🤣🤣
GMS whacks the PAP government 9696:
A hairstylist who worked at Jean Yip Salon died days after taking his booster shot:
https://www.change.org/p/salma-khalik-urgent-petition-for-salma-khalik
Immunocompromised persons, seniors to start getting Covid-19 booster vaccine shots in coming weeks: MOH
SINGAPORE — Immunocompromised persons and seniors will be eligible for booster Covid-19 vaccination shots starting sometime this month, depending on when they had their earlier two doses. This is to ensure that they are sufficiently protected from severe illness from the coronavirus, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Friday (Sept 3).
MOH said that the expert committee on Covid-19 vaccination had recommended this move based on the efficacy of booster doses administered globally.
At a press conference on Friday, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, who co-chairs the Government's Covid-19 task force, said that while vaccines still offer protection against infection, the strength of the protection will “come down as antibodies wane several months after the vaccination”.
In its statement, MOH said that those who are moderately to severely immunocompromised will receive a third dose of the same messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine two months after their second dose as part of their primary vaccination course.
This is because immunocompromised people have a “blunted immune response to vaccination and are also at a higher risk of severe illness from Covid-19”, it added.
The three-dose programme will ensure that they have an “adequate immune response”.
The expert committee elaborated in a statement later that there are studies showing that a third dose “increases the likelihood that immunocompromised persons develop a robust protective immune response”.
The immunocompromised include cancer patients on active treatment such as chemotherapy, those with end-stage kidney disease on dialysis, and those with advanced or untreated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
The committee added that immunocompromised people would be referred to receive the third dose by their doctors, who will have “the best understanding of their medical condition”.
BOOSTER SHOTS FOR ELDERS
For seniors aged 60 years and above and residents of aged-care facilities, they should receive a booster dose of a pandemic special access route mRNA vaccine — the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines — six to nine months after completing their two-dose vaccination regimen.
The first batch of seniors aged 60 and above and who completed their two-dose regimen in March will be eligible for the third dose in September.
“Seniors are also at risk of severe infection and may develop a lower immune response from their two-dose vaccination regimen,” MOH said.
The ministry added that the booster shot will ensure higher levels of protection from infection and continued high levels of protection against severe disease.
It will also reduce the possibility of spikes in infections and more people falling severely ill.
The expert committee said that seniors may develop a lower immune response to the initial two doses of vaccines, and their immunity has also been observed to decline over time.
“A booster dose will increase the level of immunity and ensure that a high level of protection from severe disease is maintained across a longer period.”
More details on the roll-out of the booster shots will be announced at a later date.
Read more at https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/immunocompromised-persons-seniors-start-getting-covid-19-booster-vaccine-shots-coming
Some workers who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19 feel like they are in limbo as they wait to see what vaccine-related rules their employers might introduce, such as making them pay for regular testing.
Some of them told TODAY that they are prepared to hand in their resignations and find other jobs should the rules become too stringent.
Earlier this week, Singapore’s tripartite partners had issued an advisory on how bosses can keep their workplaces safe from Covid-19.
Among other things, it urged all employers here to adopt a regime that either sees their workers fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or requires unvaccinated employees to undergo regular testing.
........One finance sector worker, who wished to be known only as Mrs Lee, said that her boss told her she cannot return to the office because she is not vaccinated and will have to work from home until she does.
The 39-year-old said that she does not want to get vaccinated because she is concerned about the possible long-term side effects of Covid-19 vaccines.
“I feel that vaccination status should not be used in this aspect to deem who is worthy to work in the office,” she said.
READY TO RESIGN
Though their employers have not officially announced the full suite of vaccine-related measures they plan to introduce, some of the unvaccinated workers told TODAY that they were prepared to quit their jobs and find new ones if the rules became too stringent.
Mrs Lee, the finance sector worker, said that even though she has worked at her current job for 10 years and it pays well, she would resign if her employer requires her to take frequent Covid-19 tests and pay for them herself.
Another worker from the non-profit sector, who wanted to be known only as Mr Chan, 41, said that he is prepared to negotiate with his employer when the company requires unvaccinated people to get tested regularly from October.
He opposes the testing regime because he is believes that the chemical ethylene oxide used to make Covid-19 tests is carcinogenic and harmful to humans, though scientists have said that all residue of the chemical is removed from the tests before they can be used, and they have been rigorously tested to be safe to use.
Mr Chan also believes that it is unfair to place the burden of costs of the tests on unvaccinated workers, especially low-wage earners.
He is willing to be redeployed or have his job redesigned if that is what it takes to be exempted from the testing regime.
However, if his employer refuses to budge, Mr Chan said that he would quit his job and find a new one.
Read more at https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/unvaccinated-workers-count-cost-as-covid-19-workplace-rules-loom
Young people’s deaths after Pfizer vaccines are new worry
Deaths following vaccine jabs among people in their 20s continue to be reported in Korea, adding fresh concerns as inoculations for younger people start Thursday.
A 21-year-old female college student died one week after getting her first dose of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine in Gongju, South Chungcheong on Monday, according to police reports. She had no known underlying medical condition, her family said.
According to local police, the woman received her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Aug. 16 and apparently had no particular side effects. According to her family, she studied until late at night with friends, and was captured on CCTV going to a convenience store at 2 a.m. on the day of her death.
She was found dead in her residence around 2:25 p.m. Monday by the house owner, who received a call from her parents saying she was not answering their phone calls.
She had purple spots on her body when she was found, and the family and the police requested an autopsy from the National Forensic Service to find the cause of death.
“My younger sister was preparing for the teacher certification exam so our family always worried about her health, and continuously contacted her every few hours and checked her condition after she got her vaccine,” a petitioner who claimed to be her sibling wrote in a petition on the Blue House website on Monday.
“There were no signs of worries or stress [in the posts] on her blog that indicated she was planning to take her own life,” the petitioner wrote. “Also, the testimonies of relatives and the family’s opinion agree that this is not a suicide case at all, and that she had been very healthy.”
Similar post-vaccination deaths of the young have been reported in the country.
A man in his late 20s died Sunday, 20 days after receiving a Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine in Jeju.
The man received his first dose on Aug. 2. He complained of chest pain, a common post-vaccine symptom, and visited a hospital on Aug. 22 but died after symptoms worsened.
Working at an airport in Jeju, he was given priority status in the vaccination scheme and received the shot in early August, a health official at the Jeju Provincial Government told the Korea JoongAng Daily.
“He was known to have no underlying diseases,” the official said, yet he wondered whether a causal connection between the vaccine and his death will be acknowledged because of the 20 days that elapsed.
A healthy young mailman, who was 25-year-old, was found dead on Aug. 10, three days following his second Pfizer jab.
After getting the second dose of the vaccine, the man complained of muscle pain. His mother tried to wake him up for work around 5 a.m. on Aug. 10, but was dead.
An online user who claimed to be his sister posted a petition to the Blue House. She wrote, “My younger brother had a medical checkup in July around the time he got his first Pfizer shot, and except for slightly elevated levels of liver enzymes, [the results showed] he was very healthy.
“My family can’t help but raise suspicions that the vaccine is the cause of death, as he died three days after his second Pfizer shot," the petitioner added.
According to his family, a first autopsy failed to ascertain the cause of death, and they were told that further results will come out one to two months later through an investigation by the KDCA and the National Forensic Service.
Relatives of the deceased worry that the government will not acknowledge that the deaths were caused by Covid-19 vaccines.
Currently, Korea only acknowledges three types of symptoms as post-vaccination side effects: anaphylaxis, or severe allergic reaction; unusual blood clots with low blood platelets termed thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, or TTS, that can be caused by a viral vector vaccine like AstraZeneca or Janssen; and inflammation of the heart or its lining called myocarditis and pericarditis that can be reported after mRNA vaccines like Pfizer or Moderna.
As of Monday, the KDCA received 492 reports of fatalities after vaccinations — and only two cases have been officially acknowledged as vaccine-caused deaths.
Korea’s Covid-19 Vaccination Damage Investigation Team acknowledged a man in his 30s died due to TTS related to his AstraZeneca inoculation, and a Pfizer recipient in his 20s died due to myocarditis.
“My family is still waiting for additional results from the autopsy, but a lot of people are telling us that the government will say there was no causality,” the family of the mailman wrote. “If we cannot trust the government in this war-like situation, what and who can we rely on?”
Korea will start offering Covid-19 vaccinations to the general public aged 18 to 49 this Thursday, either Pfizer or Moderna’s vaccine depending on the vaccine supply schedule.
“We advise you not to feel pressured or scared by [vaccine side effects] as the benefits of Covid-19 vaccines outweigh the risks,” Cho Eun-hee, an official from the Covid-19 Vaccination Damage Investigation Team said Tuesday.
As concerns are growing among young people, experts say the government should clarify the exact cause of death and present the medical examination method for each side effect cases.
“For people in their 20s, side effects from vaccines mostly don’t lead to death,” said Dr. Chun Eun-mi, a professor of respiratory medicine at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital. “But the cause of deaths must be examined and announced to allay the public anxiety.”
“In a situation where the government is asking people to get vaccinated,” said Dr. Kim Woo-joo, a professor of infectious diseases at Korea University Guro Hospital, "individuals cannot check the safety of each vaccine. The government must inform the medical staff and the public of the safety information and how to receive treatment for any symptoms."
Experts advise heart patients or people with family histories of heart disease to get a checkup before getting the vaccine. People who develop chest pain, fever or shortness of breath within a week after vaccination should immediately visit a hospital.
Chun also recommended young people get tested for Covid-19 with a home testing kit on the day of getting their vaccines.
“As there are many Covid-19 patients, especially among young people who are often asymptomatic or have weak symptoms, many tend to think the side effects are from the vaccine, yet they are actually from the virus,” Chun said.
“Side effects could be worse in someone with Covid-19, with the vaccine immune response and the virus symptoms mixed together,” she explained. Using home testing kits could prevent such cases if people who test positive cancel their vaccinations.
Meanwhile, the country saw 1,509 more Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, with the total caseload coming to 239,287.
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2021/08/24/national/socialAffairs/covid19-vaccine-deaths/20210824191200483.html
I'm vaccinated, but my boyfriend isn't. This is what happens when there are differentiated measures.
PERSPECTIVE: On Aug. 6, the Multi-Ministry Taskforce announced that, along with relaxing some safe distancing measures, Singapore would begin vaccination-differentiated measures from Aug. 10. But what happens when one party in the relationship has not gotten their vaccination yet?
Being fully vaccinated since June this year, I was thrilled to finally be able to eat out, after what seemed like ages of dealing with take-aways and deliveries.
But my initial excitement was quickly dampened when I realised that I wouldn’t be able to enjoy any of these perks with my boyfriend, who refuses to get vaccinated (with Pfizer or Moderna, at least).
Our different views on the vaccine,and subsequently our decisions on whether to take it or not, have never really been a problem — up till now.
Over the last couple of weeks, I found myself becoming increasingly annoyed at him for what seemed like him holding us back from enjoying dates together.
Our prior discussions about this issue haven’t always been amicable, and the issue is something that we are still grappling with.
We sat down for a (much calmer) conversation about his decision, and the potential impact of this decision on our relationship. Here's how our conversation went.
Me: When did you first decide that you weren’t going to get vaccinated? How did you come to this decision?
Boyfriend: I think I first decided when the Pfizer vaccine was undergoing development and when I saw the haste at which it was being developed.
I felt uneasy because there wasn't enough data to support taking mRNA vaccines. My main concern is that you don’t know what the long-term effects are and that it seems rather pointless to be taking such a vaccine when you could put it off and get a better vaccine in the future.
I would say I’m definitely more inclined to take non-mRNA vaccines (such as Sinovac, Sinopharm, or Novavax).
Did you consider how your decision to not get vaccinated would affect me, or our relationship?
I mean I did consider it, of course. But I felt that it wouldn’t make much of a difference to our dates. Whether we go to a restaurant or a hawker centre, I don’t feel like it would affect the quality of our dates as much because we’re still spending time with each other.
Like, I don’t feel that there’s much that we can’t do, except for going out to restaurants, because I’m not vaccinated. I didn’t feel like that would be a major issue.
I mean I definitely felt a bit sian because I felt like we were being held back from doing a lot of things.
Like what?
Like eating out, for example. Going out to a new restaurant is something that we like to do on dates.
And also because of the measures a month before, we’ve had to dabao food or eat at home for so long. Now that the measures are lifted for vaccinated people, it just feels extra sian that I won’t be able to do that with you. Especially when I see everyone else being able to go out.
I understand that. I’m sorry, but what can I do?
Get vaccinated lor *laughs*.
No thank you!
Actually, why do you trust Sinovac, Sinopharm and Novavax more than Pfizer and Moderna?
In general, I think that these types of vaccines are tried and tested, compared to mRNA vaccines. And that’s a given, right? Because we understand the technology and the long-term side effects of whole-virus and protein vaccines, but not mRNA vaccines.
I don’t think I would be opposed to an mRNA vaccine, like Pfizer, for example, if there were long-term data on it. But you just wouldn’t have that data until at least five years from now.
Did you feel like I wasn’t being understanding when I was expressing my frustration towards you about your decision not to get vaccinated?
Yes definitely, I felt annoyed that you weren’t being understanding towards me. I felt like you didn’t really understand my thought process behind why I didn’t want to get it. I would’ve liked for you to accept my decision.
Oh yeah, for sure la, I thought that your decision-making process was flawed. I thought that you didn’t wanna get vaccinated because you read too many conspiracy theories.
Yeah, I was definitely annoyed by that.
Do you think we’ve been able to respect each other’s decisions about whether we want to get vaccinated?
I know I’ve respected your decision just fine; I never had an issue with it. I’m all for people getting the vaccine if they want. You want to get the vaccine just get la, just don’t ask me to get it.
I don't have a moral angle here. Take it or not, it's up to you.
But then how do you reconcile your own hesitancy towards getting the vaccine and my decision to get it?
When it comes to the potential side effects, I am concerned about you, for sure. I'll be quite sad if you were to suffer any side effects. But I can understand your decision to take the vaccine. It’s your decision, I don’t have a problem with it.
Do you think my decision-making process was flawed, then?
I don’t think it was flawed, but I think you could have afforded to wait. Because what has the vaccine afforded you? There’s nothing you have done from the time you’ve gotten the vaccine till now, that you couldn’t have done because you were vaccinated. Correct?
I’ve been able to go out to restaurants, and meet my (vaccinated) friends.
Okay, fair. But I definitely think you could’ve afforded to wait another six months, see how things pan out, see what other developments there are, and then come to a decision.
I think that you not getting vaccinated as a personal decision is fine. You are probably at a lower risk of getting Covid-19 because you aren’t working in industries where you are constantly exposed to people, nor are you typically around people who might be exposed to the virus. Ultimately, I was more annoyed at the fact that we can’t go out.
Yeah I don’t recall you that ever told me to take it because of my safety or whatever. I think most of our arguments centred around the going out issue.
What about not being able to travel together?
I remember we had this conversation way back, about how there are going to be vaccine passports or travel restrictions for unvaccinated people in the future. Regarding how we weren’t going to be able to travel together, and I asked you, “Are you okay with that? That you can’t travel with me, even though I really want to go on a holiday with you?” Do you remember that conversation?
Yeah, I just told you to go by yourself.
But I wanted to go with you. So you were okay with not going on holidays with me?
Yeah. I mean, I meant it.
*Laughs*
I mean it’s not that I didn’t wanna go with you, but it’s that I can’t. And I am willing to make that sacrifice.
But you’re sacrificing an experience for the both of us. Did you consider how I would feel about not being able to go out or travel with my boyfriend?
I did la, but I was more concerned about my safety. I definitely understand where you’re coming from. It’s just that I chose to value my safety more.
So it’s more like we had our own cost-benefit analyses, when it came to deciding whether we should get vaccinated or not.
Yeah exactly, we both prioritise things a little differently. So you prioritise being able to go out, travel, and do all these things, and you place less importance on the potential long-term side effects.
Whereas I prioritise my long-term health, and I care less about going out. I’m a homebody.
And by the way, I’m not doubting that the vaccines work, they do work. It’s just that I don’t think I should be taking a vaccine that could be bad for me in the long run.
Now that the restrictions have been announced, were there any situations where we had to face the consequences of the both of us not being vaccinated? Do you feel it's worth it?
I don’t think there have been any major consequences. Okay, we can’t go to restaurants, or (vaccinated-only) cinemas, but that’s about it, I feel. There’s nothing that made me think “Wah, I really wish I was vaccinated”.
I think also that’s because we’ve found other ways to accommodate your decision.
Yeah, like the picnics, hawker centres, or hanging out at home. So I still don’t feel like it’s a big deal.
What about stuff like concerts that I want to go to with you?
That one a bit bopian (no choice) la, you have to go without me. Aiya, but who’s touring now, who’s coming to Singapore now anyways?
I don’t know, maybe in like four months’ time?
Well, maybe. If that’s really the case, then the pre-event swab rule should still apply. I’ll just go get swabbed, it’s not a big deal. If I really want to go for something I’ll definitely be willing to get swabbed.
What do you think our path forward looks like, both ideologically and logistically?
Do you plan on getting vaccinated? Do you think that this difference in opinion will continue to come up as an issue in our relationship, and in what cases?
I think it would come up again if the measures were changed. Like if, for instance, the situation gets worse, and they don’t allow unvaccinated people to visit hawker centres, then I guess it would be an issue.
I do plan on getting vaccinated, eventually. I’m looking at good vaccine alternatives, so given a good alternative, I would take it.
Vaccines like Sinopharm and Novavax seem pretty good to me, so when they become available in Singapore, I would be willing to take them.
I don’t think our path would be that affected in the long run, because I see myself getting vaccinated eventually. By the time travel comes up, I see myself getting vaccinated by then.
So I guess in the meantime we’ll just live with this current arrangement? Until the vaccines that you think are okay become available here?
Yeah, it seems like it.
Do you foresee that the next couple of months will be hard?
Well I think there might be frustrations on your end, if there’s some things we can’t do together. But *laughs* hopefully, it won’t be too bad. Hopefully we’ll be able to work around what it is we want to do.
https://mothership.sg/2021/08/unvaccinated-relationship-impact-commentary/
Ms Venessa Chua, 33, is among those not fully vaccinated because of health reasons. She suffers from an autoimmune condition and was hospitalised for 10 days after suffering a rare reaction to her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine last month.
"The doctors used strong steroid treatment to lower my body's immune response to the Pfizer vaccine, which was starting to attack my liver and bone marrow," she explains, adding that they are reviewing her options for a non-mRNA booster.
This means that, for now, she cannot dine in at a restaurant with her husband Kenneth Koh, 35, an aerospace quality manager, and their one-year-old son, Elijah, unless she pays beforehand for a negative pre-event Covid-19 result from an approved test provider.
However, she is taking the situation in her stride.
"The restrictions feel like a reasonable compromise in order to allow the country to reopen, while trying to protect the public from Covid-19. As I am still vulnerable to Covid-19, I am already taking steps to protect myself so the restrictions have little impact on my daily life," she reasons.
"Mostly, I miss meeting my friends in large groups, but I do understand the risks of attending big gatherings. Even if the vaccine did work for me, I would probably still be avoiding large crowds."
The banking executive works from home unless she has to meet clients and visits the hospital every three days for ongoing check-ups. She does not feel "discriminated against" so far and has been heartened by the reactions from those near and dear to her.
"During this time, I have received messages of support from friends and family who are worried for me. While I have been missing out on gatherings at nice restaurants, everyone has been really understanding and they occasionally bring takeaway food to my home. This allows me to avoid crowded areas during meal times."
She adds: "I understand that my adverse reaction to the Pfizer vaccine is a rare occurrence. As much as it was a frightening ordeal for me, I would still encourage others to get vaccinated to protect themselves and the people around them."
More at https://www.straitstimes.com/life/vaxxed-or-vexed-what-will-life-for-the-unvaccinated-be-like-in-singapore
‘Is it anti-vax to be concerned?’: Magazine editor reports changes to period after Covid jab, the latest in over 30,000 UK women
At least 30,304 British women have disclosed changes to their menstrual cycle after getting vaccinated against Covid-19. An editor for The Spectator is one of the most recently affected, and says many more are afraid to come out.
Lara Prendergast, an executive editor at London's Spectator magazine, raised some concerning questions in a column on Thursday after reporting that she had been affected since receiving her first Pfizer dose in May.
Noting that it is an “uncomfortable” and sensitive topic to discuss – indicating that the true number of women with period-related vaccine side effects could be far greater than the 30,304 documented – Prendergast revealed that her cycle has not been right since she was vaccinated months ago.
“Millions of British women have been jabbed, so 30,304 reports will be a tiny proportion: a negligible number, you might say. But it doesn't seem negligible if you're one of those women” she wrote, adding that friends have told her “they've also been affected” but “didn't report it either” due to the topic being both awkward and sensitive, and because of fears of being branded an ‘anti-vaxxer’.
“Is it ‘anti-vaxx’ to be concerned that these jabs may be having an effect on our menstrual cycles?” Prendergast questioned, before claiming that a women's health doctor had told her it is not exactly normal “for vaccines to affect periods in such a way.”
Prendergast also expressed concern that “if the jabs are affecting so many women's periods, who knows what else might be going on,” noting that millions of women can only “hope and trust” that the medical officials and influencers who are pushing for young women to get vaccinated are right about the allegedly low risks involved.
Though she acknowledged that officials, such as Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) President Dr. Edward Morris, have assured women that it would be impossible for the vaccines to affect a woman's fertility, Prendergast pointed out that most women do “associate their periods with their fertility,” and that side effects are thus extremely alarming to those who experience them.
“A month after my second jab, I make a note that my latest cycle is messed up, once again,” she concluded in the column.
The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has advised concerned women that menstrual issues are “mostly transient in nature” and that “there is no evidence to suggest that Covid-19 vaccines will affect fertility and the ability to have children.”
RCOG Vice President Dr Jo Mountfield has also said that though “changes to periods can be concerning,” it appears “most women's menstrual cycles return to normal after one to two cycles.”
Menstrual cycle changes do not appear on the list of side effects given to Brits before they receive a Covid-19 vaccine in the UK.
The UK government announced on Monday that the MHRA was reviewing “suspected side effects of menstrual disorders and unexpected vaginal bleeding following vaccination against Covid-19 in the UK.”
https://www.rt.com/uk/532487-spectator-editor-covid-vaccine/
S'pore teen who suffered cardiac arrest after Covid-19 jab undergoing rehab, gets $225k in financial assistance
SINGAPORE - A 16-year-old boy who suffered a cardiac arrest after his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine is recovering steadily, and has received $225,000 under the Vaccine Injury Financial Assistance Programme (VIFAP).
He is currently undergoing inpatient rehabilitation and can perform his activities of daily living without assistance, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a statement on Monday (Aug 16).
"He will likely be discharged in the coming weeks, but will likely require outpatient rehabilitation for some time before he can return to school and resume other activities," it said.
The medical team will continue his treatment and monitor his condition, it added.
The 16-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest on July 3, six days after receiving the vaccine. He had developed acute severe myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle, which led to the cardiac arrest.
MOH said the myocarditis was likely a serious adverse event caused by the vaccine, which may have been aggravated by the youth's strenuous lifting of weights and high consumption of caffeine through energy drinks and supplements.
The youth and his family will get a one-time payment of $225,000 under the VIFAP.
"The independent clinical panel appointed to assess and adjudicate the VIFAP application found that while he has made good improvement, because his condition was severe and critical, he will require treatment and rehabilitation for some time yet to continue his recovery," MOH said.
The ministry advised people to avoid strenuous physical activity for one week after receiving their first and second doses of the vaccine.
Individuals should seek medical attention promptly if they develop chest pain, shortness of breath or abnormal heartbeats, it added.
Those who developed myocarditis from their first dose of the mRNA Covid-19 vaccines should also not receive further doses of it.
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/teen-who-suffered-cardiac-arrest-after-covid-19-jab-undergoing-rehab-gets-225k-in