Our Ministry of Health has launched a website where Singapore citizens, residents and long-term pass holders can register their interest in getting the Covid-19 vaccine. Doing so means you will be notified via SMS as soon as you can make an appointment online.
The WhatCard team has decided to re-post information from the website so as to not re-invent the wheel, but have decided to post it because it would be of value to our readers who aren’t aware of it!
How much must I pay?
It is free for all Singaporeans and long-term residents in Singapore, which includes Singapore Permanent Residents, and Employement Pass holders. (As a side note, the vaccine is halal and Muslim friendly!)
How does it work?
You will need to receive 2 shots, taken ~1 month apart. Make a booking online with a 10-character code sent to you via SMS here and choose a clinic and two time slots, 21 to 28 days apart. With the rise in the number of online scams these days, readers should take note that the link that is provided in the SMS should go to “vaccine.gov.sg” . Only government officials can register for a gov.sg domain. Do not trust any other URLs that are not from a .gov.sg domain.
Which vaccine am I getting?
Pfizer-BioNTech is the only COVID-19 vaccine that will be used in Singapore for now.
What are the drawbacks/risks?
The vaccine has been assessed to be safe for use. 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.
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.
Should everyone take the vaccine?
COVID-19 vaccine is currently not recommended for:
- Pregnant women
- Children below 16 years of age
- Persons with a severely compromised immune system (e.g. active cancer / on cancer treatment, on other immunotherapy for non-cancer conditions, have HIV infection with CD4 < 200)
- Persons with a history of severe allergic reactions
COVID-19 vaccination is safe even if you have chronic illnesses such as hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Postpone vaccination if you are unwell or have fever in the last 24 hours
Summary
While we have no clue when the vaccine will actually be rolled out, we recommend our readers to register your interest in advance. It only takes 5 minutes and a National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) or Foreign Identification Number (FIN) to pre-register. Let us all do our part to keep our loved ones (and Singapore!) safe from Covid-19.
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