If you clicked on this article, you may be interested in getting vaccinated in Singapore with the newest bivalent COVID-19 vaccine.
However, you may have pressing questions like: What is the meaning of a bivalent vaccine? Is it safe? Am I eligible to receive a dose of this vaccine?
Fret not! We have summarised below what you need to know to help make your decision.
What is a bivalent vaccine?
A bivalent vaccine targets two variants of a virus. In the case of COVID-19, this means that a bivalent vaccine protects against both original and Omicron variants. It may give better protection against future variants as well.
It works the same way as the original COVID-19 vaccine where your body’s immune system learns to recognise and defend against the virus after receiving a dose.
How safe is it?
Currently, the only bivalent COVID-19 vaccine available in Singapore is the bivalent Moderna/Spikevax vaccine.
According to a press release about this vaccine by MOH, it is authorised by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and is recommended by the expert committee on COVID-19 Vaccination (EC19V) for the primary vaccination series and booster vaccination. Hence, be rest assured that thorough reviews were done before it was approved for use.
In addition, the safety profile of this vaccine is consistent with that of its predecessor, with mostly mild to moderate side effects such as pain at the injection site, fatigue and muscle pain.
Am I eligible for the bivalent vaccine?
You are eligible if you are:
o Above 18 years of age
o Have yet to receive a booster dose
o Had completed your last booster dose from around 5 months to a year
Is it available now?
The bivalent Moderna/Spikevax vaccine was made available from 14 October 2022, and the bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty vaccine is expected to be available by the end of this year.
How can I get vaccinated in Singapore?
Our clinic in Kovan currently carries the original series Pfizer-BioNTech/Comniranty vaccine while our Potong Pasir branch offers the paid Sinopharm vaccine. Stay tuned as we are looking to offer the new bivalent vaccines in our new upcoming clinics. Bivalent vaccines are only available at selected centers (www.vaccine.gov.sg)
Make an appointment with Intemedical via the following channels:
Online appointment Portal: Kovan Clinic / Potong Pasir Clinic
WhatsApp: 8879 9404
Landline: Potong Pasir - 6242 6384 Kovan - 6243 3036
(Available during clinic opening hours, 8 am to 12 am)
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