Earlier this month, the committee highlighted the possibility that a second dose of mRNA Vaccines may be associated with a small risk of myocarditis and pericarditis in young men.
According to a media report, in response to an open letter by a group of doctors, the Singapore government’s expert committee on COVID-19 vaccination said that the benefits of receiving the mRNA coronavirus vaccine continue to outweigh the risks of vaccinating.
Earlier this month, the committee highlighted the possibility that a second dose of mRNA vaccines may be associated with a small risk of myocarditis and pericarditis in young men, Channel News Asia reported on Monday.
Myocarditis and pericarditis are inflammatory conditions that affect the heart muscle and the outer layer of the heart, respectively.
“Our assessment following review is that the benefits of receiving the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine outweigh the risks of vaccination,” the committee said. “The data on myocarditis and pericarditis have not changed since, and the expert committee’s assessment remains the same.”
The committee’s comments on Sunday were in response to an open letter circulating on social media attributed to a group of doctors, including a cardiologist, calling for a halt to the COVID-19 vaccination of Singaporean youth. This was followed by a report from the US Center for Disease. A control and prevention investigation into the death of a 13-year-old boy after being vaccinated with a second dose of mRNA vaccine. The response also highlighted recent international reports of an association between myocarditis in young men and second doses of mRNA vaccines.
Singapore uses Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, both of which are mRNA-based vaccines, for its national immunization programme.
The committee said, “Social media posts indicated that a 13-year-old US male had died of heart failure, although no cause of death has been made public and the matter is being investigated by US authorities.” “
It said US data indicates that cases of myocarditis following mRNA vaccination are rare, with almost all such cases resolving with minimal medical intervention.
“Professional medical associations in the US, including the American College of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association in the US, continue to strongly encourage vaccination in all people 12 years of age and older,” the news channel quoted the committee as saying.
The committee said it continues to recommend the use of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines for young men.
The expert committee said it continues to recommend that vaccinated people, especially adolescents and young men, avoid strenuous physical activity for a week after their second dose. They should seek medical help immediately if they develop chest pain, shortness of breath, or an abnormal heartbeat.
The committee said it would continue to monitor the data and review its recommendations as necessary. TODAY newspaper quoted the infectious disease as saying that without more scientific data supporting the precise parameters of the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, balancing the risk of infection against the social and economic consequences of closing Singapore’s vaccination milestone Will have to do specialist.
The government task force leading the pandemic response said on 18 June that it would ease restrictions within Singapore and on its borders based on two milestones: when 50 percent of the population is fully vaccinated and when. 75 percent get jabs.
Last Thursday, however, the target was shifted to phase one, when two-thirds of the population was vaccinated with two doses, as officials have managed to step up the distribution of vaccine supplies. Singapore is soon reaching the milestone as the task force said two-thirds of the population is expected to have received both doses of the vaccine by National Day on August 9.
However, one expert suggested that the “magic number” should be set at no more than 80 percent. Dr Leong Ho Nam, an infectious disease specialist at the Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Center, is calling for a “more cautious” stance as he fears opening up too early could put pressure on the healthcare system.
Noting that the delta version of the coronavirus that originated in India is at least 60 per cent more transmitted, he said, “Once the healthcare system is overloaded, everything will come crashing down very quickly.” He also pointed out that various scientists had called for herd immunity of 70 to 90 percent before opening up, but Singapore has a relatively small number of community (local) cases, with its population mainly relying on vaccines for protection. .
“(At the two-thirds point) I don’t think Singapore will be ready. The number of cases and the speed of the spread can affect our country,” Dr. Leong said. “If you think about it, it’s our Imagine that humans are in control of the virus.
As of Sunday, Singapore has a total of 62,544 COVID-19 cases and 36 deaths in a population of 5.7 million.
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