Malaysian surgeon Amalina receives first dose of Pfizer vaccine

KUALA LUMPUR – As the nation awaits the arrival of various Covid-19 vaccines onto our shores, Dr Amalina Bakri, an acclaimed medical practitioner in the United Kingdom, has received her first shot of Pfizer’s immunisation.

The London-based general surgeon said this in a tweet today.

“Got my first Pfizer Covid vaccine dose today!” she tweeted. 

Amalina also urged everyone to continue complying with Covid-19 related standard operating procedures in the meantime, given the rising number of cases has resulted in hospitals over capacity. 

Got my first Pfizer COVID vaccine dose today! Let’s all continue to follow the COVID guidance, the cases are rising, hospital admissions are increasing, hospital beds are almost full, it’s not the time to be complacent. Hoping that next year will be a better year! ?? pic.twitter.com/u589EQMQrC

— Dr. Amalina (@DrAmalinaBakri) December 30, 2020

“Hoping that next year will be a better year!” she added. 

Amalina made new headlines earlier this year after she refuted Health Minister Dr Adham Baba’s claim that drinking water would kill the Covid-19 virus. 

She pointed out that there is no scientific evidence to support Adham’s assertion. 

She also proceeded to convey some key facts to counter fears over vaccination in a Twitter thread which elicited gratitude from humanitarian Tan Sri Dr Jemilah Mahmood, the special public health advisor to the prime minister.

“Receiving an mRNA vaccine will not alter your DNA,” Amalina said in the thread. “Messenger RNA (mRNA) gives instructions to our body to make spike proteins. mRNA cannot enter the nucleus and alter your DNA (genetic makeup).”

She also said: “Covid-19 vaccines will not give you Covid-19. The vaccine doesn’t contain the live virus that causes Covid-19. Sometimes, you may experience a fever after getting the vaccine but this is normal as your body is creating antibodies against the virus and building your immunity.”

There have been concerns regarding the side effects of Pfizer's vaccine, though the US Food and Drug Administration has declared that the symptoms recorded have no causal link to the vaccine. – The Vibes, December 31, 2020