Know Your Medicines
Do vaccines against pneumonia protect you against COVID-19? 预防肺炎的疫苗能预防COVID-19吗?

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Vaccines against certain pneumonias, such as influenza, pneumococcal vaccine and Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib) vaccine, do not provide protection against the new coronavirus. However, these vaccines are important especially if you have some medical conditions that would make you vulnerable to these infections (e.g. elderly, immunocompromised patients, or some patients with certain lung or heart conditions). We are glad that some of these vaccines are covered by MOH’s National Adult Immunisation Schedule (NAIS), and you can discuss with your primary care doctor to learn more.

The COVID-19 virus is so new and different that it needs its own vaccines. We are glad that in the past 2 years, since the emergence of this disease, much research and development has been poured into developing these important vaccines to protect everyone from serious infections during this pandemic.

As the knowledge and understanding on the COVID-19 disease evolve, national vaccination recommendations would also be updated to ensure best evidence is applied to support public health, and access to these essential COVID-19 vaccines. In support of this important initiative, MOH and healthcare partners have developed a central platform to address any queries on COVID-19 Vaccination Programme at  https://www.moh.gov.sg/covid-19/vaccination. It provides a trusted central source of information that has been tailored and updated to cater to Singapore’s unique needs and setting.

 

References:
1.     https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters
2.     https://www.primarycarepages.sg/Pages/Practice%20Management/National-Adult-Immunisation-Schedule-(NAIS).aspx
3.     https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html
4.     https://www.moh.gov.sg/covid-19/vaccination

 

Authored by:

Dr Wang Aiwen & Dr Doreen Tan Su-Yin
Members of Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore