Currently there are 38 vaccination Centres in Singapore.
The following centres will administer Moderna COVID 19 Vaccine: Hong Kah North community Club, Marsiling Community Club, Punggol 21 Community Club, Radin Mas Community Club, Kolam Ayer Community Centre, Buona Vista Community Centre, Potong Pasir Community Centre, Tampines East Community Centre, Woodlands Community Centre, Kebun Baru Community Centre and Yew Tee Community Centre.
You can check what vaccines are being administered at which centres on the MOH website.
The other vaccination centres will continue to offer Pfizer- BioTech vaccine. However as more supplies of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine arrive, more vaccination centres will offer the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Each vaccination centre will only stock and administer one type of vaccine.
It’s important to keep up to date, but it is also a daunting task given the flood of information and misinformation coming at us from all directions. Here’s what we know so far:
How do the vaccines differ?
Pfizer -BioNTech
Recommended in Singapore for: anyone over 16 years.
Dose: 2 shots, 21 Days apart.
Common side effects:
Chills, headache, pain tiredness and/or redness at injection site, all of which generally resolve within a day or two of rest and with medication like Panadol.
On rare occasions (4.7 cases/ million doses administered), the Pfizer vaccine appeared to trigger anaphylaxis. For this reason, MOH have recommended monitoring everyone for 30 minutes post vaccines.
How does it work?
This is a messenger RNA (mRNA) Vaccine. The vaccine consists of messenger RNA which carries instructions to tell your body to make the spike protein of the virus. This then stimulates your immune system to produce antibodies against the spike protein.
How well does it work?
95% efficacy in preventing COVID-19 in those without prior infection. Researcher report that the vaccine was equally effective across a variety of different people and variables including age, gender, race, ethnicity, BMI or presence of other medical conditions.
How well does it work on mutations?
So far the Pfizer-BioNTech has been found to be effective against the UK strain but less effective against the variant first detected in South Africa.
Moderna
This is the second vaccine to be authorized for use in Singapore. Moderna is also an RNA (mRNA) Vaccine, using the same technology as the Pfizer-BioNTech one with a similarly high efficacy.
The Moderna vaccine can be kept in long term storage in standard freezer temperatures and stored up to 30 days using normal refrigeration.
Moderna was first slightly less effective in clinical trials 86%- in people who are 65 years and older.
Recommended for: Adults 18 and over.
Dosage: 2 shots, 28 days apart.
Common side effects:
Similar to the Pfizer vaccine. Chills, headache, pain tiredness and/or redness at injection site, all of which generally resolve within a day or two of rest and with medications like Panadol.
On rare occasions (2.5 cases/ million doses administered), the Moderna vaccine appeared to trigger anaphylaxis. For this reason, MOH have recommended monitoring everyone for 30 minutes post vaccine.
How does it work?
Similar to the Pfizer vaccine it is a messenger RNA (mRNA) Vaccine . The vaccine consists of messenger RNA which carries instructions to tell your body to make the spike protein of the virus. This then stimulates your immune system to produce antibodies against the spike protein.
How well does it work?
94.1% effective at preventing symptomatic infection in people with no evidence of previous COVID-19. Researchers report that the vaccine was equally effective across a variety of different people and variables including age, gender, race, ethnicity, BMI or presence of other medical conditions. Although as mentioned above the efficacy drops to 86.4% for people aged 65 years and older.
How well does it work on mutations?
So far the Moderna vaccine may provide protection against the UK and South Africa variants. The vaccines continue to be effective for at least 2 months with no signs of waning protection. MOH will continue to monitor and review data on the duration of immunity.
In summary the differences between the two COVID-19 vaccines currently being administered in Singapore are:
Are the COVID vaccines safe?
The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and expert committee on COVID-19 Vaccination has assessed that the Moderna and Pfizer Biotech COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective for the adult population, including people with chronic medical conditions.
Who should not get the COVID-19 Vaccine?
The Moderna and Pfizer-BioTech COVID-19 vaccines are not recommended for those with a history of:
- Anaphylaxis or severe allergies
- Severe drug reactions, or
- Allergic reactions to the first dose of the vaccine or its components
- Severely weakened immune systems
- Very low platelet counts
- If you are pregnant
Dr Nav Uppal is a Graduate of the University of Wales college of Medicine, Cardiff (UK). Dr Nav has over 10 years experience working as a GP in Singapore. She has completed a Diploma in Obstetrics & Gynecology and was involved in Medical Education at the University of Birmingham. Dr Nav practices out of the Jelita clinic.
References
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2776557
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/mrna.html
