Influenza Vaccine
What does this vaccine do?
This vaccine protects you against infection by influenza viruses that affect your upper respiratory tract. Pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus and ear infections are some of the flu-related complications. Influenza sometimes might even lead to hospitalisation or even deaths.
Which group is highly recommended for this vaccine?
This vaccine is especially important if you are above 65 years old, or if you are above 18 years old with chronic medical conditions, or immuno-compromised.
When will the vaccine take effect?
It takes about 2 weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against influenza virus infection.
What are the side effects?
The most common reaction to the flu shot in adults has been soreness, redness or swelling at the spot where the shot was given. This initial soreness is most likely the result of the body’s early immune response reacting to a foreign substance entering the body. Other reactions following the flu shot are usually mild and can include a low-grade fever and aches. The vaccine shot, like other injections, can occasionally cause the user to faint after the shot.
Pneumococcal vaccine
What does this vaccine do?
This Vaccine protects one against diseases caused by the bacteria Streptococcus Pneumoniae. Streptococcuse Pneumoniae causes pneumonia (Lung infection), meningitis (brain infection), Septic Arthritis (joint infection), Bacteraemia (blood infection), acute otitis media (ear infection) or Osteomyelitis (infection of the bone and bone marrow).
Which group is highly recommended for this vaccine?
This vaccine is highly recommended if you are an adult aged 65 or older, or you are 18 years or older with chronic medical conditions, or immuno-compromised.
What are the side effects?
The most common reaction to the vaccine shot in adults has been soreness, redness or swelling at the spot where the shot was given. Other reactions following the shot are usually mild which can include a low-grade fever and aches. These reactions usually occur right after the shot. Other serious complications might include giddiness, vision changes or ringing in the ears.
Human Papillomavirus Vaccine
What does this vaccine do?
This Vaccine protects against HPV infections that can cause cancer of anus, cervix, vagina and vulva for girls. It can also protect against genital warts.
Which group is highly recommended for this vaccine?
This vaccine is highly recommended for women from age 18 to 26 years.
When will it take effect?
It takes about 2 Weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against the Human Papillomavirus.
What are the side effects?
The most common reaction to the vaccine will be pain, swelling itching, bruising and redness at injection site. More generalized reactions may include fever, headache or pain in extremity. The more serious reactions might include fainting, hence patients should be observed for 15 minutes after they received the vaccine. Severe allergic reactions such as difficulty in breathing, wheezing, hives and rash have also been noted.
Tetanus Vaccine
What does this vaccine do?
This Vaccine protects against diseases caused by tetanus bacteria. If left infected and untreated, it will produce a powerful toxin which will impair the nerves that control the muscles.
Which group is highly recommended for this vaccine?
This vaccine is especially important for women who are pregnant.
What are the side effects?
The most common reaction to the vaccine will be pain at where the shot was given, redness or swelling at the injection site, mild fever, vomiting and loss of appetite. More serious side effects will include high fever, bleeding at the injection site, or getting a severe pain in the shoulder and having difficulty moving the arm.
Measles, Mumps & Rubella Vaccine
What does this vaccine do?
This Vaccine protects against diseases which will cause minor complications rash, cough, eye irritation or fever. The disease might also cause serious respiratory complications such as pneumonia, seizures, brain damage or even death.
Which group is highly recommended for this vaccine?
This vaccine is important for people who have no evidence of immunity or prior diseases.
When will it take effect?
It takes about 5 to 10 days after vaccination for it to develop in the body and provide protection against measles and rubella viruses. It will take about 3 weeks for the protection against mumps to develop.
What are the side effects?
The most common side effects from the vaccine will be sore arm from the injection, fever, redness or rash at injection site, or swelling of glands in the cheeks or neck. More serious side effects will include seizures, temporary low platelet count, infections of the lungs or rash all over the body. There are also cases of extremely serious side effects such as deafness, coma, or brain damage.
Hepatitis A Vaccine
What does this vaccine do?
This Vaccine protects against diseases caused by Hepatitis A virus. Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease. Children with the virus often don’t have symptoms, but they often pass the disease to others, including their unvaccinated parents or caregivers.
Which group is highly recommended for this vaccine?
This vaccine is important for people who have no evidence of immunity or prior diseases.
When will it take effect?
It takes slightly more than 2 weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against Hepatitis A disease.
What are the side effects?
The most common side effects are usually mild and last for up to 2 days. They include sore arm from the shot, headache, lethargic, fever or loss of appetite.
Hepatitis B Vaccine
What does this vaccine do?
This Vaccine protects against diseases caused by Hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis B is a serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the liver. It can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, or even death.
Which group is highly recommended for this vaccine?
This vaccine is important for people who have no evidence of immunity or prior diseases.
When will it take effect?
It takes effect soon after the first injection. And it is critical to complete the schedule of booster shots to acquire full immunity against the Hepatitis B virus.
What are the side effects?
The most common side effects are usually mild such as low grade fever or a sore arm from the shot.
Varicella Vaccine
What does this vaccine do?
The vaccine helps to protect against Chickenpox caused by varicella-zoster virus. It allows one to get immunity without the risk of serious complications of the disease. Serious complications might include dehydration, pneumonia, bleeding problem, inflammation of the brain or blood stream infections.
Which group is highly recommended for this vaccine?
This vaccine is important for people who have no evidence of immunity or prior diseases.
When will it take effect?
It takes about 4 to 6 Weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and achieve protective antibody levels against the varicella virus.
What are the side effects?
The most common side effects are sore arm from the injection, fever, redness or swelling at the injection site. More serious side effects will be seizures, infection of the lungs or rash over the body. Other notable reactions will include fainting after getting the vaccine or getting a long lasting shoulder pain.
Typhoid Vaccine
What does this vaccine do?
This Vaccine protects against Salmonella Typhi Bacteria, which causes typhoid fever. Typhoid fever will cause high fever, fatigue, weakness, stomach pains, headache, loss of appetite and sometimes a rash.
Which group is highly recommended for this vaccine?
The vaccine is especially important for anyone above age 2 who will be travelling to parts of the world where typhoid fever is common.
When will it take effect?
It takes about 1 Week after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against the virus.
What are the side effects?
Some mild side effects from the vaccine will include fever, headache, swelling or redness at the injection site. Some severe side effects caused by allergic reaction might include having very high fever, behavioral changes, and may include hives, swelling of the face and throat.
For more information on vaccines, please visit:
https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/moh-introduces-new-list-recommended-vaccine-jabs-adults
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