“MOH Dismisses People’s Power Party’s Call to Halt Covid-19 Vaccination, Labels Claims as ‘Misleading and False’”

SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Health (MOH) has firmly rejected the People’s Power Party’s (PPP) recent call to temporarily halt Singapore’s Covid-19 vaccination program. In a statement issued on June 3, MOH responded to PPP’s claims, calling them “egregious and false” and underscoring the critical role that vaccines have played in safeguarding public health.

On May 29, PPP, led by Goh Meng Seng, released a statement suggesting that rising reports of vaccine-related side effects warranted a suspension of the vaccination effort. The party referred to “studies by prominent medical experts” alleging a high rate of severe side effects linked to the vaccine and further claimed that Singapore had experienced an unusually high excess mortality rate since vaccine rollout began.

MOH refuted these assertions, highlighting Singapore’s notably low excess death rate compared to global standards throughout the pandemic, which it attributed to the high vaccination coverage among Singaporeans. “The high level of vaccine protection in our society helped prevent countless Covid-19-related deaths, kept our healthcare system stable, and protected livelihoods,” the ministry emphasized.

MOH also cited data showing that unvaccinated individuals were overrepresented among Covid-19 deaths and ICU admissions, particularly during the JN.1 wave in late 2023. According to MOH, unvaccinated seniors were twice as likely to require ICU care during this wave than their vaccinated counterparts.

Acknowledging that side effects can occur with any vaccination, MOH maintained that such cases have been consistently and transparently reported. Severe side effects remain rare, with only seven severe incidents per 100,000 doses, and the vast majority recover with appropriate care. The ministry acknowledged that certain groups, particularly young males, are at a slightly higher risk of myocarditis, a rare heart condition. However, real-world data from the United States indicates that the risk of myocarditis after Covid-19 infection is significantly higher than after vaccination.

In its statement, MOH also addressed the rise of misinformation, noting that PPP had referenced articles authored by individuals known to spread anti-vaccine rhetoric. “Most of the articles cited by PPP are from sources known for promoting anti-vaccine views,” MOH stated, urging the public to rely on trusted, authoritative sources when seeking health information.

Amidst Singapore’s current wave of Covid-19 infections, driven by new strains KP.1 and KP.2, MOH stressed that vaccines remain a critical defense, particularly for the elderly and vulnerable populations. The ministry reiterated its commitment to transparency in reporting side effects and encouraged continued public support for vaccination as a proven measure in controlling the impact of Covid-19.