More than 113,000 in Singapore get first dose of Pfizer vaccine

SINGAPORE – More than 113,000 people in Singapore have received their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine while over 50 individuals have received their second dose and completed the full vaccination regimen as of January 27.

Among the more than 113,000 individuals who have received the vaccine, 432 adverse events were reported, including three cases of anaphylaxis – rapid onset of severe allergic reactions.

“Anaphylaxis is a known but rare side effect of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine,” said the director of medical services at the republic’s Health Ministry, Kenneth Mak, in a statement here yesterday.

As with all vaccines, Mak said, there will always be a small proportion of susceptible people who experience severe allergic reactions upon vaccination.

“We have put in place precautionary measures such as pre-vaccination screening and post-vaccination observation to ensure that our vaccination programme can be carried out safely.

“All three cases of anaphylaxis were promptly treated and are well,” he said.

According to the statement, the individuals in their 20s and 30s developed multiple symptoms such as rashes, breathlessness, lip swelling, throat tightness, and giddiness.

All three individuals had a history of allergies, including allergic rhinitis and food allergies such as to shellfish, but none had a history of anaphylaxis which would have precluded them from receiving the vaccine, it said.

Meanwhile, most of those other reports were for regular symptoms such as injection site pain and swelling, fever, headache, fatigue, body aches, giddiness, nausea, and allergic reactions –  itches, rashes, and the swelling of eyes or lips.

While it expects few to need this, the Health Ministry said it will nevertheless introduce a vaccine injury financial assistance programme for Covid-19 vaccinations to provide financial assistance for affected persons in the rare event of serious side effects that are assessed to be related to Covid-19 vaccines administered in Singapore. – Bernama, January 29, 2021