The Sinopharm Vaccine will be available at EHA Clinic@Jurong.

While some were sitting on the fence about getting vaccinated, others wanted an alternative to the two mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines currently HSA approved and offered as part of the national vaccination program.

As part of the overall efforts to enhance vaccination coverage against Covid-19 in Singapore, Sinopharm was approved by the World Health Organisation to be on its emergency-use listing. The Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine was also given approval by MOH to be administered under the Special Access Route (SAR) scheme in Singapore, though it is not registered and not approved by HSA as of 18th June 2021.

How is the Sinopharm vaccine different from the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines?

It is an inactivated virus

Inactivated viruses have been used for vaccinations for more than a century. Some common vaccinations that are inactivated viruses include HPV vaccine, flu vaccines and hepatitis A.

Sinopharm uses your own antibodies against COVID-19

Sinopharm works by using killed viral particles to expose the body’s immune system to the virus without risking a serious disease response.

Sinopharm is stored at normal fridge temperatures instead of at lower temperatures like the mRNA vaccines

Like the traditional flu vaccination, Sinopharm is stored at normal fridge temperatures of 2 to 8°C.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for the Sinopharm vaccine and how much does it cost?

You are eligible if you

have consulted a doctor at EHA Clinic @Jurong about the risks and benefits of using the Sinopharm vaccine
are above 18 years old

Please note that the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine remains unregistered and is not authorised by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) for use under the Pandemic Special Access Route – it is to be provided only under the SAR framework, and hence will not be covered under the Vaccine Injury Financial Assistance Programme (VIFAP) (https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/covid-19-vaccination-moh-provide-financial-assistance-people-affected-serious-side-effects), meant for our national vaccination programme.

The administration of the Sinopharm vaccine is charged at $55/dose. Three doses are required as part of the vaccination program.

Who is the vaccine not recommended for?

– Individuals with a history of anaphylaxis to any component of the vaccine should not take it.
– Persons with acute PCR-confirmed COVID-19 should not be vaccinated until after they have recovered from acute illness and the criteria for ending isolation have been met.
– Anyone with a body temperature over 38.5°C should postpone vaccination until they no longer have a fever.

What are the vaccines currently approved by the World Health Organisation?

As of 2 December 2020, WHO lists 51 vaccine candidates in clinical trials, and 163 in pre-clinical studies. Vaccines in Phase 3 studies fall into 5 main categories:

mRNA vaccines: e.g. Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Arcturus
virus vectored vaccines: e.g. Astra-Zeneca, Gamaleya, Can-Sino
inactivated virus vaccines: e.g. Sinovac, Bharat
protein subunit vaccines: e.g. Novavax, Sanofi-Pasteur
virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines: e.g. Medicago

What are the Vaccines currently approved by the Ministry Of Health, Singapore?

Currently as of 17th of June 2021, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna are part of the National Vaccination Program, and Sinopharm is approved under the Special Access Route (SAR).

More information can be found here: https://www.moh.gov.sg/covid-19/vaccination

How should Sinopharm be administered?

The WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts recommends the use of Sinopharm vaccine as 2 doses (0.5 ml) given intramuscularly. WHO recommends an interval of 2–4 weeks between the first and second dose. It is recommended that all vaccinated individuals receive two doses.

If the second dose is administered less than 2 weeks after the first, the dose does not need to be repeated. If administration of the second dose is delayed beyond 4 weeks, it should be given at the earliest possible opportunity.

What are the known possible side effects?

How do I manage the side effects? Like all vaccines, this vaccine can cause side effects. Most side effects are mild or moderate, and usually get better within a few days. The table below lists some common side effects that have been reported with this vaccine, and how to manage them.

Side Effects	How to Manage
Pain, redness, swelling at the injection site	Those with fever are advised to self-isolate at home until the fever subsides. Paracetamol 1 to 2 tablets every 6 hours as needed.
Fever, chills
Headache, muscle pain, joint pain
Tiredness, fatigue	Rest
Lymph node swelling at neck or arms	Usually gets better by itself in less than 10 days

See a doctor if the side effects persist or get worse, if the fever persists for more than 48 hours or if respiratory symptoms such as cough, runny nose, sore throat, shortness of breath or loss of your sense of taste and smell develops.

Systemic reactions that affected more than just the injection site can also include:

diarrhea
muscle weakness

These symptoms were reported far less than those in the above table, according to trial data.

Very rarely, this vaccine can cause a severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis. Signs of a severe allergic reaction include difficulty breathing, swelling of your face, throat, eyes or lips, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, weakness and/or a bad rash all over your body.

Please be advised that there may be potentially more side effects / adverse reactions than which are currently known and published.

SinoPHARM Covid-19 Vaccine