Vaccination

KOTA KINABALU: The standard operating procedure (SOP) requirement that only those who are fully vaccinated may enter business premises will be enforced in Sabah from Sept 21. State Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Masidi Manjun said the Sabah government has decided to allow for a week's extension before the full vaccination requirement for entry to restaurants, coffeeshops, malls and supermarkets is enforced. "We are supposed to implement the SOP for the fully vaccinated from Sept 15 but our rate (for full vaccination) is currently 52%," he said. He said the state government decided to defer enforcing the SOP until 60% of Sabah's adult population is fully vaccinated. Masidi said there were also some delays among employees in the trade and industry sectors as well as coffeeshops and restaurants to get their second dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, especially those who received an initial shot of AstraZeneca. He said such employers should apply for a temporary exemption. "The applications ... » Learn More about Masidi: SOP for fully vaccinated will come into effect in Sabah only from Sept 21

UNITED NATIONS (XINHUA) - The United Nations intends to continue an honour system for vaccination status for entry into the General Assembly Hall during the high-level week despite a New York City requirement that all people should be vaccinated for entry. There was a pilot project under the previous president of the General Assembly, which basically said that, by swiping a badge to enter the General Assembly Hall, delegates attest that they are fully vaccinated, that they have not tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 10 days and have no symptoms, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "We're working with the president of the General Assembly 76 (the current president) on continuing this honour system in an appropriate and acceptable way for all concerned," he said. Dujarric confirmed on Wednesday (Sept 15) that current General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid has circulated a letter, embracing the requirement of the New York City ... » Learn More about UN to continue honour system for Covid-19 vaccination in high-level conference week: Spokesman

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Ahmad Marzuk Shaary ( pic ) said all the Covid-19 vaccines obtained by the Malaysian Government were recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO). ”It is our hope that the Saudi Arabian Government would accept all pilgrims that had been vaccinated with vaccines that are recognised by WHO. "On discrepancies in the vaccine recognition, the matter will be discussed by Mosti with the Saudi Arabian government,” he said when met by reporters after attending a donation presentation programme by then Malaysian Islamic Economic Development Foundation (YaPEIM) in Kampung Sering here Sunday (July 11). Prior to this, it was reported that the Saudi Arabian government would only accept pilgrims who received either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines for the haj pilgrimage. Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin recently said there should be a consensus among countries in determining ... » Learn More about Malaysia to hold talks with Saudi Arabia on vaccine recognition

JAKARTA, Sept 16 (Bloomberg): Indonesia is allowing foreigners holding more types of visas to enter the country as long as they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Those holding the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation business travel cards, visitors with permits to stay for diplomatic and work purposes, as well as people having limited or permanent rights to stay can enter the country, according to a statement on the immigration office’s website. South-East Asia’s largest economy has been shut to most foreign travelers since April last year amid the pandemic, only allowing certain visitors to enter for business essential purposes. Indonesia will require proof of full vaccination in visa applications, as well as a statement to ensure that the visitor will comply with all health protocols and has health insurance, or is willing to independently pay for medical costs if they were to contract Covid-19. The number of Covid-19 cases in Indonesia rose by 3,948 within one day to ... » Learn More about Indonesia eases visa rules while requiring vaccine passports

Follow us on Telegram for the latest updates: https://t.me/mothershipsg When 37-weeks-pregnant Vanessa Rickard started having flu symptoms, she thought it was just the common cold. Two weeks later, the Covid positive 36-year-old gave birth to her second child at Singapore General Hospital (SGH) on Aug. 24 in an isolation ward. The mother of two has thankfully recovered, and is now urging Covid-19 vaccination for all pregnant women who have yet to do so. It was the week of National Day when Rickard's symptoms started. The cold persisted for more than a week without a fever, and Rickard eventually took an Antigen Rapid Test (ART) at home, which came back positive on Aug. 16. Soon after, a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test confirmed that she had contracted Covid-19. She then developed a dry cough, suffered from fatigue, and lost her sense of smell. This was on top of her pregnancy woes, which included backache, joint pain, and heartburn. Upon admission at ... » Learn More about Mom who gave birth in SGH Covid-19 isolation ward urges pregnant women to get vaccinated

The White House offered Wednesday (Sept 15) to connect Nicki Minaj with one of the Biden administration’s doctors to address her questions about the Covid-19 vaccine, after the Trinidadian-born rapper’s erroneous tweet alleging the vaccine causes impotence went viral. The White House said that they’ve offered such calls with others concerned about the vaccine, part of an aggressive public relations campaign to beat back rampant disinformation about the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness. Minaj tweeted Wednesday that "the White House has invited me” and "yes, I’m going,” but a White House official said the rapper was simply offered a call. Minaj made headlines earlier this week when she noted in a tweet to her more than 22.6 million followers that the Met Gala required attendees to be vaccinated, and that she wouldn’t get the shot until "I feel I’ve done enough research”. She later issued a tweet sharing an unverified story about a cousin’s friend in Trinidad. Minaj asserted the ... » Learn More about White House offers to talk to rapper Nicki Minaj about vaccines

More than two-thirds of Brazilians have received at least one coronavirus vaccine dose BRASíLIA - Despite a slow start plagued by much controversy that still haunts President Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil's coronavirus vaccination campaign is now one of the fastest-paced and farthest-reaching in the world. While boasting a globally renowned vaccination system, the country of 213 million people only started coronavirus inoculations in January, several weeks after the United States, many European countries and others in South America. The rollout was delayed by political bickering under a president who belittled the pandemic and spread vaccine falsehoods, then hamstrung by logistical difficulties in the vast country. But the country with the world's second-highest Covid-19 death toll -- more than 588,000 fatalities reported to date -- has seen its coronavirus vaccination rate pick up and its death rate tumble as imported jabs started arriving and local production began. In the past ... » Learn More about Brazil turns the tide with Covid-19 vaccines

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations COVID-19 vaccination honor system will remain in place for presidents, prime ministers and diplomats who enter the General Assembly Hall next week and they are not required to show proof of immunization. General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid notified the 193-member U.N. member states of the plan on Thursday in a letter, seen by Reuters, after telling them on Tuesday that he supported a New York City demand that proof was required and would work with U.N. chief Antonio Guterres to implement it. But Shahid abandoned the push after Russia objected, saying it would be discriminatory, and Guterres told Reuters in an interview https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/vaccinated-mr-president-new-york-wants-proof-un-chief-cannot-enforce-2021-09-15 on Wednesday that the U.N. Secretariat "cannot tell a head of state if he is not vaccinated that he cannot enter the United Nations." Dozens of heads of state and ... » Learn More about Vaccinated Mr President? We’ll take your word for it, U.N. says

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday pledged more freedom for vaccinated citizens, even as the country's second largest state reported its second highest daily rise in new COVID-19 infections this year. Morrison said federal and state leaders would discuss vaccine passports and expanding home quarantine when they meet for a national cabinet later on Friday. "You will see vaccinated people being able to move and do more things," Morrison told radio station 3AW. "They're less likely to get the virus, transmit the virus, get a serious illness and end up in hospital," he said. "And so, that won't put the pressure on the public hospital system." Health officials have warned that the current Delta outbreak is likely to strain the healthcare system when states go ahead with plans to lift lockdowns in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and some regional areas. Victoria on Friday reported 510 new cases, the majority in state capital Melbourne, and one new ... » Learn More about Vaccinated Australians promised more freedom even as COVID-19 cases mount

SINGAPORE - More large scale data is needed before any conclusion can be made on whether Singapore should vaccinate children. Though such trials for mRNA vaccines Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech have already commenced, results have yet to be published. Concerns are that since young adults do experience some transient, but at times debilitating side effects from the vaccines, children could fare even worse. But it does not mean that if young adults and late teens have adverse side effects, that children will have them as well, said Professor Ooi Eng Eong from the Duke-NUS Medical School's Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases at a webinar on Thursday (Sept 16) on living with Covid-19. "The vaccines could in fact turn out to be very safe for children," he added. The bigger picture also needs to be considered when weighing the risks and benefits of vaccinating children, said the panel of three experts at the session organised by The Straits Times. For instance, ... » Learn More about More data needed before kids get Covid-19 vaccine