More data needed before kids get Covid-19 vaccine

SINGAPORE - More large scale data is needed before any conclusion can be made on whether Singapore should vaccinate children. Though such trials for mRNA vaccines Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech have already commenced, results have yet to be published. Concerns are that since young adults do experience some transient, but at times debilitating side effects from the vaccines, children could fare even worse. But it does not mean that if young adults and late teens have adverse side effects, that children will have them as well, said Professor Ooi Eng Eong from the Duke-NUS Medical School's Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases at a webinar on Thursday (Sept 16) on living with Covid-19. "The vaccines could in fact turn out to be very safe for children," he added. The bigger picture also needs to be considered when weighing the risks and benefits of vaccinating children, said the panel of three experts at the session organised by The Straits Times. For instance, grandparents and grandchildren may share a very special relationship and so vaccinating grandchildren would protect the grandparents. Singapore will also have to look towards the experiences of other countries, such as the Unit...

Highest financial aid of $225k paid to two patients for serious side effects from Covid-19 vaccine: MOH

SINGAPORE - Two patients suffering from serious side effects related to the Covid-19 vaccine have each received the highest payout of $225,000 in government financial aid so far, said the Ministry of Health (MOH). One of them is a 16-year-old boy who suffered a cardiac arrest after his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. The boy is currently undergoing inpatient rehabilitation. "The Tier 1 payout of $225,000 has been extended to a total of two applicants so far, including this case," an MOH spokesman told The Straits Times late at night on Monday (Aug 16). The spokesman did not provide details of the second case and whether it was related to the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty vaccine. Under the Vaccine Injury Financial Assistance Programme (VIFAP) rolled out earlier this year, a one-time payout will be given to those who experienced medically significant serious side effects. This is to give a greater peace of mind for those taking Covid-19 vaccination. MOH added that a total of of $782,000 has been paid out, or is in the process of being paid out, to 144 applicants who have been assessed to have met the qualifying criteria for VIFAP. MOH said on Monday (Aug 16) that the 16-year-old boy...