jamestanbs
Junior Member
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2021
- Messages
- 13
- Reaction score
- 3
I am making public my letter to ST Forum & REACH sent on 30 May 2021 since 7 days past without a response from ST Forum to register my concern as a grandparent about the longer-term Covid-19 vaccine safety and effectiveness risks highlighted by the twelve doctors in an Open Letter and also Dr Danny Soon (a member of MOH Expert Committee on Vaccination). Parents & grandparents need to be discerning about the new mRNA Covid-19 vaccine for children (the lowest risk group for Covid-19) as the points stated in my letter are valid about potential risks and consequences. My Letter is reproduced below:
Parents Must Decide If Children Should Get Vaccinated
I refer to articles “Teens aged 12 to 15 to get Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine in Singapore” (ST: 18 May); and “Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine safe, effective for those aged 12-15, says expert committee responding to open letter from some doctors” (ST: 24 May).
As a grandfather, I want to be thoroughly informed of any risks that could affect my grandchildren. The Ministers of Health and Education must ensure that parents reserve full rights to decide if their child should get vaccinated.
In the open letter, twelve doctors warned against “long-term side effects” of the mRNA vaccines, to which Dr Kenneth Lyen rebutted: “Medical science progresses at incredible speed, so we should not worry about what happens 10 to 20 years later. We will deal with future problems if and when they arise.”
Ironically, while Dr Kenneth sought to allay fears by touting the advancement of medical technology, his statement did not rule out the possibility of risks the twelve doctors raised.
Another Prof Ooi said: “There is absolutely no evidence to support the notion that there are vaccines that can cause problems 10 to 20 years after vaccination.”
The fallacy here might be that Prof Ooi is comparing apples to oranges. Since the twelve doctors’ concerns are precisely because the mRNA vaccine is new, “unknown and unstudied”, how then can there be any evidence about it whatsoever?
In fact, the issue of longer-term side effects was mentioned too by Dr Danny Soon, another member of MOH’s Expert Committee. He pinpointed the “long term effectiveness and safety of these vaccines are yet to be fully investigated.”(“Fast and Furious: Can we trust the speedy development of Covid-19 vaccines?”, ST: 28 Dec 2020) He also confirmed that data on symptoms of reactogenicity is “evolving” and “vaccination guidelines will require… close observation of vaccine recipients” following vaccination.
The Straits Times had reported a total of 2796 adverse events including 104 applications for financial assistance for serious injuries following vaccination (11 May). We should not dismiss these cases, but look into it with no details left unturned. Fact is – there are unknowns surrounding the vaccine. As such, we must encourage more informed, educated voices to arise for a robust debate. The twelve doctors should not be silenced for raising valid public concernsabout longer-term vaccine safety and effectiveness. Hence, I am thankful for the open letter.
Tan Boon Siang
30 May 2021
Straits Times news link referred in Letter:
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/singapore-approves-use-of-pfizer-covid-19-vaccine-for-those-aged-12-to-15
https://www.straitstimes.com/singap...ficacious-for-those-aged-12-to-15-says-expert
https://www.straitstimes.com/singap...t-the-speedy-development-of-covid-19-vaccines
Parents Must Decide If Children Should Get Vaccinated
I refer to articles “Teens aged 12 to 15 to get Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine in Singapore” (ST: 18 May); and “Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine safe, effective for those aged 12-15, says expert committee responding to open letter from some doctors” (ST: 24 May).
As a grandfather, I want to be thoroughly informed of any risks that could affect my grandchildren. The Ministers of Health and Education must ensure that parents reserve full rights to decide if their child should get vaccinated.
In the open letter, twelve doctors warned against “long-term side effects” of the mRNA vaccines, to which Dr Kenneth Lyen rebutted: “Medical science progresses at incredible speed, so we should not worry about what happens 10 to 20 years later. We will deal with future problems if and when they arise.”
Ironically, while Dr Kenneth sought to allay fears by touting the advancement of medical technology, his statement did not rule out the possibility of risks the twelve doctors raised.
Another Prof Ooi said: “There is absolutely no evidence to support the notion that there are vaccines that can cause problems 10 to 20 years after vaccination.”
The fallacy here might be that Prof Ooi is comparing apples to oranges. Since the twelve doctors’ concerns are precisely because the mRNA vaccine is new, “unknown and unstudied”, how then can there be any evidence about it whatsoever?
In fact, the issue of longer-term side effects was mentioned too by Dr Danny Soon, another member of MOH’s Expert Committee. He pinpointed the “long term effectiveness and safety of these vaccines are yet to be fully investigated.”(“Fast and Furious: Can we trust the speedy development of Covid-19 vaccines?”, ST: 28 Dec 2020) He also confirmed that data on symptoms of reactogenicity is “evolving” and “vaccination guidelines will require… close observation of vaccine recipients” following vaccination.
The Straits Times had reported a total of 2796 adverse events including 104 applications for financial assistance for serious injuries following vaccination (11 May). We should not dismiss these cases, but look into it with no details left unturned. Fact is – there are unknowns surrounding the vaccine. As such, we must encourage more informed, educated voices to arise for a robust debate. The twelve doctors should not be silenced for raising valid public concernsabout longer-term vaccine safety and effectiveness. Hence, I am thankful for the open letter.
Tan Boon Siang
30 May 2021
Straits Times news link referred in Letter:
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/singapore-approves-use-of-pfizer-covid-19-vaccine-for-those-aged-12-to-15
https://www.straitstimes.com/singap...ficacious-for-those-aged-12-to-15-says-expert
https://www.straitstimes.com/singap...t-the-speedy-development-of-covid-19-vaccines