Let's not forget about the other vaccines

While the world — including Singapore — rolls out its COVID-19 vaccination exercises, let’s not forget about adopting other proactive ways to take better charge of our health. This means getting vaccinated against preventable diseases, such as flu and pneumonia.

“While the COVID-19 vaccine has good efficacy in preventing the coronavirus disease, it is not effective against diseases like influenza and pneumococcus,” explains Dr Zheng Shuwei, Consultant, Department of Infectious Diseases at SKH.

Flu occurs all year round in Singapore and can spread rapidly resulting in outbreaks. Common symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, cough, sore throat and runny nose, which are almost indistinguishable from COVID-19 symptoms without diagnostic testing.

Flu can also affect the lungs, brain and the heart, similar to COVID-19 complications. With so many similarities, getting a flu shot is all the more crucial amid the pandemic. The pneumococcal vaccine is another important vaccine to take, especially for seniors aged over 65 as well as individuals with chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart and lung diseases, and kidney disease. Pneumococcal disease is a bacterial infection that can cause pneumonia (lung infection), bloodstream infection, and meningitis (brain infection). It spreads through coughing, sneezing or sharing of food and drinks.

In cases where people with weakened immunity are unsuitable to receive certain vaccinations, their caregivers should ensure they get themselves vaccinated as well, to prevent infection from spreading. “Vaccinations are safe and effective at preventing infections,reduce the strain on healthcare facilities, as well as protect vulnerable people in the community,” Dr Zheng assures.

If you intend to take these vaccines with the COVID-19 vaccine, Dr Zheng recommends having at least a 14-day interval between the different vaccines. Before taking your shots, seek advice from your family doctor first as they
would know your medical history best.

Facts about Vaccinations

It’s not only important forkids.	It’s not only needed when travelling abroad.	Flu vaccine does not cause the flu.	We still need to get vaccinated even if other people arealready vaccinated.	Some vaccines may not last a lifetime.
Many infectious diseases that can be prevented by vaccines can affect adults too. Vaccination is important for everyone.	While certain vaccinepreventable infections like yellow fever, rabies and Japanese encephalitis are not found in Singapore, many others, like influenza, pneumococcal infections, chickenpox and measles, are present all year round here.	The flu vaccine does not contain any live viruses so it cannot cause an infection. Minor side effects like mild soreness at injection site, muscle aches, tiredness, and mild fever, will go away within a few days.	We should be taking charge of our own health.	Different vaccines have different efficacies and declining immunity is a well-described phenomenon in some vaccines. They may require booster doses to prolong immunity.

STRONGLY RECOMMENDED VACCINES
Flu and pneumococcal vaccines are not effective against COVID-19 but are highly recommended to protect your health and your loved ones, especially the following:

Flu

• Young children 5 years and below
• Seniors 65 years and above
• Pregnant women
• People with diabetes or chronic heart, lung, liver, kidney disease or poor immunity

Pneumococcal

• Seniors 65 years and above
• Adults 18 years and above who have impaired immune system; or have diabetes, heart, lung, liver or kidney disease; alcohol dependence; or smokers

Other vaccines available in Singapore: Measles/mumps/ rubella, hepatitis A and B, chickenpox, and diphtheria/
tetanus/pertussis.

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​Let's not forget about the other vaccines

Facts about Vaccinations