Is a Covid-19 supplemental vaccination still necessary Considering that immunity to previous vaccines would have diminished, it is probable that vaccine updates will occur frequently.
– SINGAPORE The latest Covid-19 vaccines will be imported by the Republic by the end of October. The Health Sciences Authority has granted approval to the novel vaccine developed by Pfizer, while concurrently evaluating the vaccine offered by Moderna. Both antibodies target the XBB.1.5 Covid-19 strain and are monovalent. Do these vaccines continue to be necessary in light of the fact that the pandemic has concluded? Should those whose booster shots are approaching wait for the new vaccines? Here is the opinion of the experts.
Given that the pandemic has concluded, Singapore’s procurement of additional Covid-19 vaccines is puzzling.
A: Although the pandemic has concluded, the virus continues to circulate. During the week beginning September 3, over 7,000 individuals were identified as having Covid-19. Although this is a substantial decrease compared to the zenith of over 28,000 per week in April and May, it is still noteworthy that 151 individuals were admitted to hospitals during that week, two of whom required intensive care.
Recently, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung issued the warning that “our protection against Covid-19 will deteriorate over time” due to declining vaccination rates.
He urged individuals to receive booster doses, stating, “The virus has not diminished in severity. It has been our secure recovery from infections and vaccinations that have allowed us to grow stronger.”
Within the initial half of the current year, 172 individuals perished in Singapore due to Covid-19.
What is the purpose, then, if the new vaccines fail to target the most prevalent strains in circulation?
A: While it is accurate to state that the new monovalent vaccines specifically target the XBB.1.5 strain, which is no longer the dominant strain, they do offer superior protection against the circulating Covid-19 Omicron strains compared to the current bivalent vaccines, according to experts.
Vice-dean of global health at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Professor Hsu Li Yang, stated that although the new vaccines target the XBB.1.5 strain, they “will still generate a strong immune response that protects against the current variants EG.5 (Eris) and BA.2.86 (Pirola).”
Dr. Asok Kurup, a private practitioner specialising in infectious diseases, stated that immunity from previous vaccines would have diminished, so vaccine updates are likely to become routine.
Associate Professor Lim Poh Lian of the National Centre for Infectious Diseases stated, “The various Omicron subvariants provide excellent cross-protection.” Therefore, the fact that the targeted subvariant is no longer dominant is largely inconsequential, given the relatively broad protection it provides.”
Dr. Sebastian Maurer-Stroh, executive director at the Bioinformatics Institute of the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research, which monitors Covid-19 strains in Singapore, stated that the XBB.1.5 family strains EG.5.1.1, HK.3, and EG.2 are the predominant strains circulating at this time.
A: Since the new vaccines are monovalent, they specifically target a single strain. Presently employed bivalent vaccines are designed to combat two strains. Therefore, aren’t older vaccines superior?
A: No, according to the experts.
The novel vaccines, according to Prof. Lim, are “completely targeted against the Omicron variant, which has been circulating for over a year.” She explained that they offer enhanced protection against the Omicron variant “because the entire quantity of the booster is directed at Omicron, as opposed to just half of it.”
According to Prof. Hsu, the inclusion of a non-Omicron strain could potentially induce an immune response within the body that targets ancient variants of the virus, thereby compromising protection against more recent iterations.
A highly mutated Covid-19 variant has been identified in new countries, but the pandemic is in “another phase.”
Since the new vaccines are superior, there is no reason to receive a supplemental shot at this time, correct? We should all patiently await the arrival of the new ones.
A: It would make sense to wait until the new vaccines become available, which Prof. Hsu and Dr. Kurup both agree upon by the end of October.
Prof. Lim, on the other hand, urged individuals who responded affirmatively to any of the following to obtain a stimulant immediately:
Do your medical conditions and age (the Ministry of Health recommends booster vaccinations for those 60 and older) increase your risk of developing complications from Covid-19?
When did the last booster vaccination occur, which was over a year ago?
Are you planning a trip, and if so, could you provide an update on the Covid-19 situation at your destination?
“Antibody levels tend to decrease with time, despite the fact that immune memory endures,” she explained. Therefore, it is critical that medically vulnerable individuals have their immunity bolstered with a Covid-19 supplement, preferably within a year of their most recent dose.
This is because “new variants can rapidly emerge and spread due to the elimination of restrictions such as face masks, increased travel, and open borders.”
Further discussion on this subject
WHO issues a ‘concerning’ warning Trends in Covid-19 preceding winter
Covid-19 has returned. Who is the most probable recipient to obtain it once more?
Q: Given the reduced likelihood of severe illness among younger individuals, is it truly necessary for them to receive a booster?
A: That is an individual choice.
If the earlier dosages were administered without incident, Prof. Hsu stated that the only viable risk would be mild fatigue and arm discomfort.
However, he added, “The benefit is also negligible unless they have compelling reasons to avoid symptomatic Covid-19 for a couple of months.”
This is due to the fact that the concentration of antibodies considerably increases two weeks following a booster shot and remains elevated for a number of months, providing only temporary protection against infection.
Individuals in good health and youth who have received the “minimum protection” vaccine (three doses of the Pfizer, Moderna, or Novavax vaccine, or four doses of the Sinovac vaccine, as defined by the Ministry of Health) remain protected against severe illness for an extended period of time should they become infected.
As with influenza vaccinations, they may wish to receive annual boosters to “ring-fence” susceptible family members, prevent illness while travelling, taking exams, or simply to maintain good health, according to Dr. Kurup.
askST: Is a Covid-19 supplemental vaccination still necessary now that the pandemic has ended?
Considering that immunity to previous vaccines would have diminished, it is probable that vaccine updates will occur frequently.
– SINGAPORE The latest Covid-19 vaccines will be imported by the Republic by the end of October. The Health Sciences Authority has granted approval to the novel vaccine developed by Pfizer, while concurrently evaluating the vaccine offered by Moderna. Both antibodies target the XBB.1.5 Covid-19 strain and are monovalent. Do these vaccines continue to be necessary in light of the fact that the pandemic has concluded? Should those whose booster shots are approaching wait for the new vaccines? Here is the opinion of the experts.
Given that the pandemic has concluded, Singapore’s procurement of additional Covid-19 vaccines is puzzling.
A: Although the pandemic has concluded, the virus continues to circulate. During the week beginning September 3, over 7,000 individuals were identified as having Covid-19. Although this is a substantial decrease compared to the zenith of over 28,000 per week in April and May, it is still noteworthy that 151 individuals were admitted to hospitals during that week, two of whom required intensive care.
Recently, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung issued the warning that “our protection against Covid-19 will deteriorate over time” due to declining vaccination rates.
He urged individuals to receive booster doses, stating, “The virus has not diminished in severity. It has been our secure recovery from infections and vaccinations that have allowed us to grow stronger.”
Within the initial half of the current year, 172 individuals perished in Singapore due to Covid-19.
What is the purpose, then, if the new vaccines fail to target the most prevalent strains in circulation?
A: While it is accurate to state that the new monovalent vaccines specifically target the XBB.1.5 strain, which is no longer the dominant strain, they do offer superior protection against the circulating Covid-19 Omicron strains compared to the current bivalent vaccines, according to experts.
Vice-dean of global health at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Professor Hsu Li Yang, stated that although the new vaccines target the XBB.1.5 strain, they “will still generate a strong immune response that protects against the current variants EG.5 (Eris) and BA.2.86 (Pirola).”
Dr. Asok Kurup, a private practitioner specialising in infectious diseases, stated that immunity from previous vaccines would have diminished, so vaccine updates are likely to become routine.
Associate Professor Lim Poh Lian of the National Centre for Infectious Diseases stated, “The various Omicron subvariants provide excellent cross-protection.” Therefore, the fact that the targeted subvariant is no longer dominant is largely inconsequential, given the relatively broad protection it provides.”
Dr. Sebastian Maurer-Stroh, executive director at the Bioinformatics Institute of the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research, which monitors Covid-19 strains in Singapore, stated that the XBB.1.5 family strains EG.5.1.1, HK.3, and EG.2 are the predominant strains circulating at this time.
A: Since the new vaccines are monovalent, they specifically target a single strain. Presently employed bivalent vaccines are designed to combat two strains. Therefore, aren’t older vaccines superior?
A: No, according to the experts.
The novel vaccines, according to Prof. Lim, are “completely targeted against the Omicron variant, which has been circulating for over a year.” She explained that they offer enhanced protection against the Omicron variant “because the entire quantity of the booster is directed at Omicron, as opposed to just half of it.”
According to Prof. Hsu, the inclusion of a non-Omicron strain could potentially induce an immune response within the body that targets ancient variants of the virus, thereby compromising protection against more recent iterations.
A highly mutated Covid-19 variant has been identified in new countries, but the pandemic is in “another phase.”
Since the new vaccines are superior, there is no reason to receive a supplemental shot at this time, correct? We should all patiently await the arrival of the new ones.
A: It would make sense to wait until the new vaccines become available, which Prof. Hsu and Dr. Kurup both agree upon by the end of October.
Prof. Lim, on the other hand, urged individuals who responded affirmatively to any of the following to obtain a stimulant immediately:
Do your medical conditions and age (the Ministry of Health recommends booster vaccinations for those 60 and older) increase your risk of developing complications from Covid-19?
When did the last booster vaccination occur, which was over a year ago?
Are you planning a trip, and if so, could you provide an update on the Covid-19 situation at your destination?
“Antibody levels tend to decrease with time, despite the fact that immune memory endures,” she explained. Therefore, it is critical that medically vulnerable individuals have their immunity bolstered with a Covid-19 supplement, preferably within a year of their most recent dose.
This is because “new variants can rapidly emerge and spread due to the elimination of restrictions such as face masks, increased travel, and open borders.”
Further discussion on this subject
WHO issues a ‘concerning’ warning Trends in Covid-19 preceding winter
Covid-19 has returned. Who is the most probable recipient to obtain it once more?
Q: Given the reduced likelihood of severe illness among younger individuals, is it truly necessary for them to receive a booster?
A: That is an individual choice.
If the earlier dosages were administered without incident, Prof. Hsu stated that the only viable risk would be mild fatigue and arm discomfort.
However, he added, “The benefit is also negligible unless they have compelling reasons to avoid symptomatic Covid-19 for a couple of months.”
This is due to the fact that the concentration of antibodies considerably increases two weeks following a booster shot and remains elevated for a number of months, providing only temporary protection against infection.
Individuals in good health and youth who have received the “minimum protection” vaccine (three doses of the Pfizer, Moderna, or Novavax vaccine, or four doses of the Sinovac vaccine, as defined by the Ministry of Health) remain protected against severe illness for an extended period of time should they become infected.
As with influenza vaccinations, they may wish to receive annual boosters to “ring-fence” susceptible family members, prevent illness while travelling, taking exams, or simply to maintain good health, according to Dr. Kurup.
Although Covid 19 is pandemic, One should always maintain good personal hygenice. If you are not feeling should see a doctor and get proper treatment. Resident of Toa payoh, may visit healthcare united toa payoh clinic and get it treated as soon as possible.