Elderly to start getting Covid-19 vaccine earlier, from end-Jan: Lawrence Wong

The Straits Times reported that Singapore’s COVID-19 vaccination exercise began on Dec 30 with 40 healthcare workers at NCID. Since then, more front-line staff have received their jabs, including those working in NUHS, Ren Ci Bukit Batok nursing home, as well as Home Team officers.

Doctor took excellent care of mum

​​​Ms Helen Seng Seok Mui complimented Dr Norhisham Bin Main (Head and Senior Consultant, Division of Supportive Care and Palliative Medicine, NTFGH) and his team at Clinic A42 for their excellent care of her mother.

NUS scientists find new mechanism of cancer formation that may lead to more effective treatment

​Research led by Dr Polly Leilei Chen of NUS Medicine and the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, has discovered a previously unknown mechanism of cancer formation, the understanding of which may lead to more effective treatment. The study looked at the RNA encoding a protein called COPA, which influences the development of cancers of the livers, oesophagus, stomach and breast. The team examined cancerous liver tissues to find out whether the RNA transcribed from the COPA gene was edited. They found that any given cell contains a mix of both edited and unedited versions of COPA.

• Berita MediaCorp, 14 January 2021
  
  

Why many Asian governments are being cautious on Covid-19 vaccines

​A/Prof Jeremy Lim, NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health (SSHSPH), commented that it could be a disaster if governments charge in too early when buying vaccines at great cost and could not use them meaningfully or when expired. He added that it does not matter how fast vaccinations are carried out, but how strong countries finish in vaccinating the population as around 80 per cent needs to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity.

• Bloomberg, 14 January 2021
  
  

3 in 4 Covid-19 patients suffer from at least one symptom six months after infection: Study

​Three out of four patients still suffered from at least one symptom six months after falling sick with Covid-19, with the most common problem being fatigue or muscle weakness, a study has found.

Expert on Singapore’s COVID-19 vaccination strategy

​CNA interviewed Prof Dale Fisher, Professor of Medicine, NUSMed for his comments on the vaccination centres to be operational by end January He said the goal to vaccinate everyone this year is “very realistic”, and urged people to take the vaccine when it is available to them. On the efficacy of the Sinovac vaccine, Prof Fisher noted that it would be important to wait for more data from its clinical trials to be published and reviewed.

Go only to trusted sources for vaccine information, says head of COVID-19 vaccination committee

​Prof Tan Chorh Chuan, Member, Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination & Chief Health Scientist, MOH, and A/Prof Benjamin Ong, Chair, Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination, were among the close to 120 healthcare workers across NUHS who have received their Covid-19 vaccinations as of 11 January 2021. 

What is vaccine hesitancy and why do some people have it?

​A/Prof Hsu Li Yang, Vice Dean of Global Health and Programme Leader for Infectious Diseases, NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health (SSHSPH), shared how Singapore is largely in favour of vaccinations and the possible concerns for vaccine hesitancy among the population.

Rise in imported cases in Singapore to be expected, say experts

​The Straits Times quoted Prof Dale Fisher of NUS Medicine and A/Prof Alex Cook, Vice Dean of Research, NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health (SSHSPH), who discussed the rise of COVID-19 infections in Singapore. The experts said the number of imported cases is unlikely to fall unless the rate of transmission overseas does, or unless Singapore reduces its number of arrivals. However, Prof Fisher pointed out that people travelling here do so for important social or business reasons, and the vast majority of them do not have COVID-19. A/Prof Cook added that even if a few infected travellers are missed, their potential impact can be “mopped up” by the safe management measures in place in the community.

5 shifts in Singapore healthcare in 2021 and beyond

​Commentary by A/Prof Jeremy Lim, Director of the Leadership Institute for Global Health Transformation at NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health (SSHSPH), discussed how the landscape of Singapore’s healthcare has changed over the last year. He shared five fundamental and enduring paradigm shifts that could shape the landscape of the healthcare system in Singapore and the world in 2021 and beyond.  

The Big Story: Rise in S’pore’s imported Covid-19 cases not threatening healthcare system yet, says expert

​A/Prof Alex Cook, Vice Dean of Research, NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health (SSHSPH), discussed the rising numbers of imported COVID-19 cases and the impact they may have on community transmissions. A/Prof Cook noted that there will always be some risk of people emerging out of quarantine who may still be infectious or develop symptoms after they have been released but opined that the current safe management measures in place should be sufficient to “mop up” the majority of those who were missed.

• Money 89.3FM, 11 January 2021
  
  

Personaliti pilihan: Pakar mata palsu di NUH (Personality of choice: The sole ocularist in NUH)

​Tugas yang unik dan memberi manfaat besar kepada pesakit. Demikian pekerjaan yang dilakukan Cik Suriya Abu Waled, 49 tahun, yang merupakan satu-satunya pakar mata palsu di Hospital Universiti Nasional (NUH).

Playtime at the doctor’s

​The new Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children’s Medical Institute aims to put its child visitors at ease from the get-go. The 10-storey ambulatory centre in Lower Kent Ridge Road has adopted a “playscape” design approach to make visiting the hospital less stressful for children, their families and caregivers.

50,000 fruits for frontline workers

​A local Indian vegetarian restaurant, Mavalli Tiffin Rooms, distributed 50,000 fresh fruits to 20 hospitals, including NUH and AH, on 31 December 2020 to thank frontline healthcare workers.

It’s playtime at the hospital

​Children visiting the new Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children's Medical Institute are put at ease fromthe get-go. That is because the 10-storey ambulatory centre - located in Lower Kent Ridge Road - has adopted a "playscape" designapproach to make the experience of visiting the hospital stress-free for children, their families, as well as caregivers. Reception areas, for instance, boast green rainforest, rustic savannah and cool arctic themes. The institute recently won two global design awards for melding nature and science in its interior design.