The Ministry of Health assured that there is sufficient stock of the influenza vaccine in Singapore. - ST
SINGAPORE: More than 2,000 people in Singapore made appointments to get the influenza vaccine on Feb 4, one day after the Feb 3 shock announcement of Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu’s death, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said.
In comparison, about 3,000 appointments were made online via the Health Appointment System throughout the month of January.
Hsu, best known for her role in the iconic Meteor Garden drama series, died on Feb 2 at the age of 48 after succumbing to influenza-related pneumonia while travelling in Japan with her family.
Despite the surge in appointments, MOH assured the public that there is sufficient stock of the influenza vaccine in Singapore.
It added that there are arrangements in place for public healthcare institutions and general practitioners (GPs) to procure more from suppliers to meet any increase in demand.
The news of Hsu’s death sparked a surge in demand for flu shots in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Taiwan had to purchase an additional 100,000 doses of the vaccine as its publicly funded doses were expected to run out within a week, reported news outlet Focus Taiwan on Feb 6.
Several clinics in Singapore told The Straits Times that inquiries rolled in on Feb 3, with others receiving patients walking in on the same day.
Healthway Medical Group, which has 63 GP branches across the island, said some of its clinics received 50 per cent more people getting the influenza vaccine on Feb 3 and 4, compared with the number on a regular Monday and Tuesday in January.
Raffles Medical Group said it observed an increase in flu vaccination demand by 20 per cent compared with the week before Hsu’s death across its network of more than 40 family medicine clinics.
Dr Daniel Soong from Unihealth said about 10 to 12 people received the flu shot at each of its three clinics from Feb 3 to 5, up from seven to eight vaccinations at each clinic per week. Most patients were in their 30s to 40s.
Dtap Clinic, which has five branches islandwide, has seen six appointments for the flu jab from Feb 3 to 6. The chain said there were no requests for flu jabs in the week before Hsu’s death.
Dr Jonathan Ti, Dtap Clinic’s chief medical officer, said young and healthy patients who intend to travel to Japan have been requesting the flu vaccine in the past week, seemingly to take extra precautions after reading about Hsu’s death.
He added that his clinics do not typically receive many inquiries about the flu jab in February, as most people opt to take the jab in November and December, just before their holidays.
Dr Zhang Qi at Kingsway Medical Clinic, which has three branches in Singapore, also said there was an “immediate surge after the news broke”. He said he has been giving three to four flu shots a day – the number he typically does each week.
Telehealth company Doctor Anywhere experienced a more than 20 per cent increase in flu vaccine inquiries in the two days after Hsu’s death, across its eight physical clinics and home-based flu vaccination service.
MOH recommended those with a higher risk of developing severe influenza infections, such as seniors and other vulnerable persons with underlying medical conditions, to consult their doctors and receive their influenza vaccinations.
Those who want to book their influenza vaccination appointments can do so at https://vaccine.gov.sg/flu or with participating retail pharmacies.
Flu vaccination is recommended annually or twice a year, as the circulating flu viruses change and the body’s immunity to the flu virus may decrease over time.
Doctors say the increase in awareness about the flu vaccination is good.
Unihealth’s Dr Soong said that on top of the demand for the jab, there was also a significant number of parents requesting that their children be tested for influenza when they have flu symptoms.
An accurate diagnosis of influenza allows patients to begin antiviral treatment immediately to reduce risk of complications.
“Influenza has a significant impact on population health as it is endemic. Many patients actually downplay the need for an accurate diagnosis and this can actually lead to influenza-related complications like pneumonia,” Dr Soong said.
Other complications include inflammation of the heart, brain or muscle tissues.
In Singapore, the Northern Hemisphere flu season generally occurs between November and February. The Southern Hemisphere season is from May to July. Flu shots contain several strains of flu virus that are expected to be the most common for that season.
Everyone above six months old can take the flu vaccine. - The Straits Times/ANN
