Singapore will continue to give mRNA vaccines for young men: Expert committee

Singapore, June 28

The benefits of receiving an mRNA coronavirus vaccine continue to outweigh the risks of getting inoculated, the Singapore government's expert committee on Covid vaccination said in response to an open letter by a group of doctors, according to a media report.

Earlier this month, the committee had highlighted the possibility that the second dose of mRNA vaccines may be associated with a small risk of myocarditis and pericarditis in young men, Channel News Asia reported on Monday.

Myocarditis and pericarditis are inflammatory conditions that affect the heart muscles and the outer lining of the heart respectively.

“The assessment after our review is that the benefits of receiving the mRNA Covid vaccines continue to outweigh the risks of vaccination,” said the committee.

“Data on myocarditis and pericarditis has not changed since, and the Expert Committee's assessment remains the same.”

The committee's comments on Sunday were in response to an open letter circulating on social media that was attributed to a group of doctors, including one cardiologist, calling for a halt in Covid vaccinations of Singapore's youth, following reports of the US Centres for Diseases Control and Prevention's investigations into the death of a 13-year-old boy after being vaccinated with the second dose of an mRNA vaccine.

The response also highlighted recent international reports of the association between myocarditis and the second dose of mRNA vaccines in young men.

Singapore uses Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines for its national vaccination programme, which are both mRNA-based vaccines.

“The social media post indicated that the 13-year-old male from the US had died from heart failure, although no cause of death has been made public and the case is currently under investigation by the US authorities,” said the committee.

It said US data indicates that cases of myocarditis following mRNA vaccinations are rare, with almost all such cases being resolved with minimal medical intervention.

“Professional medical associations in the US, including the American College of Paediatrics and the American Heart Association in the US have continued to strongly encourage vaccination in everyone aged 12 years and older,” the news channel quoted the committee as saying.

The committee added that it continues to recommend the use of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines for young men.

The expert committee said it continues to recommend that those vaccinated, particularly adolescents and younger men, avoid strenuous physical activity for one week after their second dose. They should also seek medical attention promptly if they develop chest pain, shortness of breath or abnormal heartbeats.

The committee said it will continue to monitor the data and review its recommendations as needed. PTI

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