SINGAPORE (Reuters) – As Singapore prepares to roll out COVID-19 vaccines, its astonishing success in controlling the virus is questioning whether they should take the blows.
In a city-state where compliance by authorities is generally high, some Singaporeans fear that the possible side effects (even if minimal) are not worth the risk when daily cases are almost nil and fatalities are among the highest. casualties of the world.
“Singapore is doing pretty well,” said Aishwarya Kris, who is about 40 and doesn’t want to shoot.
“I doubt the vaccine will help.”
A poll by local newspaper The Straits Times in early December found that 48% of respondents said they would get a vaccine when it was available and 34% would wait six to twelve months.
But the government wants to open up more economy with the help of the vaccine in a country that depends on travel and trade and is preparing to host the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum next year.
“Singapore is a victim of its own success,” said Leong Hoe Nam, an infectious disease expert at the city’s Mount Elizabeth Hospital.
To show that the vaccine is safe, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, 68, said he and his colleagues would be one of the first recipients of the shots. They will be free, voluntary and will be given first to health workers and the elderly.
The first shipment of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine arrived this week and Singapore expects to have enough vaccines for all 5.7 million people in the third quarter of 2021.
The first vaccines will be given to priority groups, such as health workers, in the next month or two, but it will be some time before they are offered to the wider population, said Lawrence Wong, a minister who chairs the working group against Singapore virus.
“Deployment to the Singapore population will also take place over several months, depending on factors such as the timing of supply and delivery of vaccines,” he said.
“WHAT’S RESPONSIBLE TO DO”
Many Singaporeans said they are ready to shoot, not only to prevent infection, but in hopes of being able to travel again. For others, it is a civic duty.
“I’m the one in the family who goes out to work every day, so he’s in charge,” said Jeff Tan, a 39-year-old photographer.
Singapore acted quickly after the first cases of the virus were reported and, although it was blinded by tens of thousands of cases in migrant workers ’dormitories, it has once again reduced infections.
Singaporeans generally accept vaccines, with uptake of nearly 90% of major childhood strokes, Hsu Li Yang told the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at Singapore National University.
But there is concern about a new vaccine that uses new technology and has had rapid development and approval. Accepting vaccines usually takes time, he said.
Even three nurses told Reuters on condition of anonymity that they would rather not get the vaccine.
The Singapore drug regulator said it granted approval after data submitted by Pfizer-BioNTech was evaluated to show that the vaccine meets the required safety, efficacy and quality standards and that the benefits outweigh the known risks.
The Pfizer vaccine has been linked to some cases of severe allergic reactions, as it has been deployed in the United Kingdom and the United States. But it has not produced any serious long-term side effects in clinical trials.
John Han, sales manager, said he wanted to wait for 80% of the population to get the vaccine without side effects.
“If there is a decision, I may not make it. I don’t mind putting on my mask, being safe, avoiding crowded places, ”said Han, 40.
Reports of Chen Lin and Aradhana Aravindan in Singapore; Edited by Michael Perry