Press Releases
Wait till next year for flu vaccine?
24 November 2005
This article has been migrated from an earlier version of the site and may display formatting inconsistencies.
24 Nov 2005, The Straits Times
Question
Name of the Person: Jason Teo Eng Teck
Wait till next year for flu vaccine?
Nov 24, 2005Wait till next year for flu vaccine?
I HAVE been calling many general practitioners (GPs) and polyclinics the past few days, and the replies were the same: There are no stocks of the flu vaccine. One GP even told me stocks would come in only next year.
As I will be travelling to temperate countries in the Northern Hemisphere in the coming weeks, I am worried. How is it possible that there are no stocks in the whole of Singapore?
What good is it if stocks come in next year, when the winter season would have passed? This is the time of the year when a lot of Singaporeans will be travelling.
It didn't help that the Ministry of Health issued a travel advisory urging those travelling to the Northern Hemisphere to get a flu vaccination. But where can I get one?
Reply
Reply from MOH
Mr Jason Teo wrote in ST (24 Nov) on the shortage of flu vaccine, "Wait till next year for flu vaccine??????????
2 There is currently a worldwide shortage of the influenza vaccine. This is partly because many people in the West and other countries were mistaken that this vaccination will protect against bird flu which is now endemic among the poultry and birds. So there is a run on the vaccines which caused a temporary shortage.
3 Influenza vaccination is not required for the general population. The jabs would be more useful for persons who are at higher risk of developing complications from influenza such as the elderly aged 65 years or above and persons with chronic heart and lung diseases. In view of the current worldwide shortage of the vaccine, the group that would benefit most from influenza vaccination are those in these high-risk groups, in particular if they are travelling to temperate countries in the northern hemisphere.
4 Young and healthy persons visiting temperate countries in the Northern Hemisphere are not in the high-risk group. In healthy individuals, influenza is usually a self-limiting disease. The best way to stay healthy is to keep a high standard of personal hygiene.