COVID-19 Vaccination

• What are the benefits of the vaccination?             
  

  	COVID-19 may be more dangerous in pregnancy		Vaccinated women are less likely to need emergency or early delivery for complications from COVID-19
  	Vaccination is effective in reducing the risk of getting COVID-19		Vaccinated women can transfer protective antibodies to their babies via the placenta or breast milk
  	A fully vaccinated pregnant woman who contracts COVID-19 is more likely to have no or mild symptoms only

• Please click here for information on COVID-19 Vaccination and Breastfeeding

• Is the COVID-19 vaccination safe for children aged six months and above? What are the possible side effects?

  Vaccine studies conducted overseas have found vaccination to be safe and effective in preventing COVID-19 infection in children.

  Vaccination for children aged six months and older with the Moderna/Spikevax vaccine is safe. COVID-19 vaccines have gone through meticulous research, review, and approvals to ensure its safety in young children six months and older.

  Common side effects (such as injection site pain, fatigue, headache) were observed less commonly than in adults and subside within two to three days.

  Serious adverse reactions are rare, with no cases of anaphylaxis or pericarditis/myocarditis observed in the Moderna clinical trial where over 6,000 children aged six months to four years were recruited. The common side effects reported from the trial were pain and swelling at the injection site, lethargy, loss of appetite, fever and muscle ache. These symptoms are reasons associated with vaccinations in general, which are expected as part of the body’s natural response to build immunity against COVID-19.

  To date, more than one million doses had been administered to children aged six months to five years in the US with no serious side effects had been observed.

  Also, in line with the Health Ministry’s guidance for adolescents and young persons, we advise children to avoid strenuous activities for two weeks, post-vaccination.

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• How does vaccination protect children aged six months and above?

  With the more transmissible Omicron variants, our children will be vulnerable to COVID-19 infections. As it is generally harder to get children to comply with mask-wearing and safe management measures, while at the same time they can be sources of COVID-19 viral transmission in our community with the elderly, very young children and persons with weakened immune systems.

  Getting the COVID-19 vaccination can help protect children aged six months and older from getting COVID-19. It can also help:

  • keep children from getting seriously sick even if they do get COVID-19
  • protect vulnerable family members who are not eligible for vaccination (e.g. immunocompromised ones) and those who may be at increased risk of getting very sick if they are infected (e.g. elderly grandparents)
  
  

  If the majority of the children are vaccinated, there will be improved protection against outbreaks in households, schools and various social settings.

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• Is the COVID-19 vaccination safe for my child in the long haul? Will it affect his/her development and growth?

  Experts believe that the vaccines are unlikely to have any long-term health impact. There is no evidence to date that shows that COVID-19 vaccines can impact a child’s long-term development, including causing DNA modification or creating fertility problems later on in life.

  In contrast, if a child who is unvaccinated is infected with COVID-19, he or she is at a higher risk of developing myocarditis, which causes inflammation of the heart muscle, than a vaccinated child.

  An unvaccinated child could also experience long-term impact on his or her health if the COVID-19 infection is severe or if MIS-C develops. MIS-C is a condition where the child’s immune system overreacts after a COVID-19 infection (typically two to eight weeks later). This is a rare syndrome but the child may require urgent care due to the involvement of various vital organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, and eyes. Patients with MIS-C can often become very sick, requiring intensive care support and may have experience long-term cardiac complications.

  So by comparison, the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks associated with contracting COVID-19.

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• Can children with underlying medical conditions take the vaccine?

  Majority of the children aged six months and above will be able to receive the vaccines with the exception of the following groups of children:

  • Children with known allergy to one of the vaccine’s components should not receive the vaccine.
  • Children with an allergic reaction to a previous dose of mRNA vaccine should not take the same vaccine again.
  
  

  Majority of the children are eligible to receive the vaccine, even those with chronic disease such as asthma, epilepsy, eczema or food/drug/dust allergies. For children with a weakened immune system, it is important for the child to be vaccinated as weakened immunity is a risk factor for severe COVID-19 infection. Children with low immunity can still receive the vaccine because it is not a live vaccine, and patients cannot get COVID-19 infection from the vaccine. If your child has cancer and is on active chemotherapy, you should consult your child’s cancer specialist to discuss the optimal time for your child to be vaccinated.

  If you are unsure of your child’s eligibility for vaccination, you are encouraged to speak with your child’s doctor/paediatrician.

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• What other considerations are there?

  Getting vaccinated helps to protect the child from getting infected and passing the disease to others. Being vaccinated gives parents and children peace of mind to return to activities like in-person infant care or child care and participating in activities.

  Children who are unvaccinated, in particular children with underlying medical conditions, can become seriously ill from COVID-19 and suffer long-term health problems. Children who develop MIS-C – a multi-organ systemic inflammatory disorder related to COVID-19 infection –often become very sick, requiring intensive care support and may have long-term cardiac complications.

  Hence, the known and potential benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the known and potential risks of vaccination.

Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is a key and effective measure in the national strategy to contain the current pandemic.

Here's a quick overview of a patient's vaccination journey if offered COVID-19 vaccination:

Please note:
If you need to reschedule your appointment:

• Please refer to the instructions within the SMS notification
• You may do so via the Health Buddy app, or
• Call Central Appointments at 6294 4050, as soon as possible

 

After vaccination:
Like other vaccines, this vaccine may cause mild or moderate side effects in some individuals (please see the list of side effects below). These will usually get better within a few days. You may wish to see a doctor if the side effects persist or get worse.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is the vaccine free?
   The vaccine is free for all Singaporeans and long-term residents in Singapore. This includes Singapore Permanent Residents, and Employment Pass holders.
   
2. Which vaccine am I getting?
   Children aged 6 month to < 5 years will receive the Moderna-Spikevax vaccine. Children aged 5 and above will receive the Pfizer-BioNtech/ Comirnaty vaccine, with the older age group (age 12 and above) being offered the bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty vaccine.
   
3. How many doses are there?
   The primary series of the vaccination consists of two doses for non-immunocompromised persons, with the second dose due 8 weeks after the first dose. You must receive both doses to have the full vaccine protection. Based on current national guidelines, booster shots are recommended for persons aged 5 and above, to maintain optimal protection. If you are immunocompromised, your doctors will advise on the number of doses that you should receive. If you had previous COVID-19 infection, your doctor/vaccination centre staff will advise on the number of doses that you require.
   
4. How will the vaccine be administered?
   The vaccine will be injected in your upper arm. To make this easier, you are advised to wear attire that has short sleeves, or sleeves loose enough to be rolled up.
   
5. Can I get my vaccination on the same day as my clinic appointment?
   You may not be able to obtain an appointment on the same day as your appointment. Our clinic staff will assist to check if there are available slots on the same day. If this is not available, we will assist to book the next available vaccination appointment for you.
   
6. Can dose 1 and dose 2 be done at different places e.g. #1 at hospital and #2 at the CC?
   As different vaccination centres may use different brands of the COVID-19 vaccine, you should return to the same vaccination centre for the second dose where you received the first dose of the vaccine. Hence, if you opt for COVID-19 vaccination at the hospital, please return to the same hospital for your second dose. At the point of enrolment, we will help you make the appointments for both Dose 1 and Dose 2.
   
   You are encouraged to receive your booster dose (either brand of mRNA vaccines offered under the National Vaccination Programme) at community vaccination centres.
   
7. What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
   The vaccine has been assessed to be safe. However, you may experience common side effects, similar to other vaccines. Most side effects are mild or moderate, and usually get better within a few days. The table below lists some common side effects that have been reported with this vaccine, and how to manage them. 
   
   

   Side Effects	How to manage
   • Pain, redness, swelling at the injection site • Fever, chills • Headache, muscle pain, joint pain	Paracetamol 1 to 2 tablets every 6 hours as needed
   • Tiredness	Rest
   • Lymph node swelling at neck or arms	Usually gets better by itself in a week or so

   
   See a doctor if:
   
   • The side effects persist or get worse
   • The fever persists for more than 48 hours (2 days)
   
   In very rare cases, this vaccine can cause a severe allergic reaction. Signs of a severe allergic reaction include: difficulty breathing, swelling of your face, throat, eyes or lips, a fast heartbeat, dizziness and weakness, a bad rash all over your body. If you experience a severe allergic reaction, seek medical attention immediately. Call 995 or go to the nearest A&E immediately.
   
8. How will the Government assist persons who suffer from serious side effects following vaccination?
   The vaccine injury financial assistance programme (VIFAP) by MOH will provide financial assistance to Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents and Long-Term Pass holders vaccinated under the national vaccination programme, in the rare event that a person suffers from serious side effects that are assessed to be related to their COVID-19 vaccination.
   
   To apply for VIFAP, individuals will need to submit an application accompanied by medical information on the serious side effect(s) from their treating doctor. All applications will be reviewed by an independent clinical panel for the relatedness and severity of the side effect(s) to the COVID-19 vaccine received.
   
   More information on how to apply can be found at www.moh.gov.sg/covid-19/vaccination/vifap.
   More information on the COVID-19 vaccine is also available at www.moh.gov.sg/covid-19/vaccination.
   
9. Is the vaccination card issued to me valid for travel purposes?
   The physical vaccination card that is given to all vaccinated individuals is not meant to be used for travel purposes. Relevant government agencies are engaging international counterparts and monitoring global developments on the issuance and recognition of digital vaccination certificates for travel purposes, as part of ongoing efforts to reopen the economy and enable cross border travel. More details will be shared when available.
   
10. I recently received a non-COVID-19 vaccine (e.g. flu, DTAP, hepatitis), how soon can I receive the COVID-19 vaccine?
    Patients who had received a non-COVID-19 vaccine in the last 14 days can receive the COVID-19 vaccine. A minimal interval of 14 days between COVID-19 vaccine and non-COVID-19 vaccine is encouraged, but not compulsory.
    
    Children aged 6 months to 5 years may receive the vaccine within 14 days of a non-COVID-19 vaccine if recommended / referred to do so by a doctor via a memo. A 14 day interval between a non-COVID-19 vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine is strongly encouraged for this age group.
    
11. How do I get to the vaccination centre at KKH?
    You will receive both COVID-19 vaccine doses at the KKH vaccination centre on your scheduled appointment dates. You may check with KKH staff on the centre's opening hours. The KKH vaccination centre is located at Rehabilitation Centre in Children’s Tower Basement 1, rooms 26 to 34:
    
    
    

Information accurate as at 3 March 2023.