Shorter wait for Moderna COVID-19 vaccine slots, experts urge residents not to wait to get shots

Prof Dale Fisher, Senior Consultant, NUH Division of Infectious Diseases commented that if more people choose to delay their vaccinations, this could hold Singapore back from meeting its target of vaccinating at least half of its residents fully by August and at least 75% by October. Prof Teo Yik Ying, Dean of NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health said that both the Pfizer vaccine and the Moderna vaccine should provide the same degree of protection against COVID-19. However, Pfizer has been linked with fewer occurrences of mild side effects such as fever and fatigue compared with Moderna.
 
A check by ChannelNewsAsia on Friday (June 18) showed that the earliest available slot for the Pfizer vaccine was on July 5 at Choa Chu Kang Polyclinic, according to the online appointment booking system.

【冠状病毒19】婴儿接种疫苗预约减少 医生：或增加风险 (COVID-19 – Reduction in infant vaccination appointments; doctors say this may increase children’s risk)

​With the increase in COVID-19 community cases, some parents are worried about contracting COVID-19 and are choosing to delay or cancel their children’s vaccination appointments. However, if children below two years old do not get vaccinated, they will face greater risk of getting infected with the various diseases. So far, at the National University Polyclinics, infant vaccination attendance has remained stable. 

World Family Doctor Day 2021

​To commemorate World Family Doctor Day, CNA938 put the spotlight on Dr Liow Yiyang, a family physician at Queenstown Polyclinic.

Health Matters host Daniel Martin asked Dr Liow about the important role being played by family doctors during this pandemic, how their role has changed over the past year, and how they ensure that they get the correct information across to their wide range of patients. Dr Liow also spoke about a memorable experience during the pandemic and how he and his colleagues cope with high stress and patient load.

冠病疫情 “守门人” 家庭医生迅速适应变化为病人看诊 (COVID-19 “gatekeepers” – Family doctors swiftly adapt to fast-paced changes to continue patient care)

On World Family Doctor Day today, polyclinic family doctors continue to work tirelessly as Singapore's first line of defence against the virus variants from COVID-19, swiftly adapting to fast-paced changes to continue to care for patients in the community at the primary care level while managing the long-term chronic diseases of the populace. 

8world News spoke to Dr Desmond Ong, Family Physician and Consultant at Jurong Polyclinic to understand more about the important roles family doctors and polyclinics play in the pandemic and some of the challenges he faces.

为病人诊断开药？特别的白衣天使有特别任务 (Diagnosing diseases and prescribing medicine for patients? Nurse with a special assignment)

​Senior Staff Nurse Shermin Chieng from Choa Chu Kang Polyclinic is the top graduate of Class of 2020 in the ALCNS Master of Nursing (MN) programme. She is the first practising primary care nurse across all polyclinics to top the MN cohort.

In this exclusive feature with 8world to commemorate International Nurses' Day on 12 May, Shermin shared more about the responsibilities of an Advanced Practice Nurse, especially in a primary healthcare setting.

• Mediacorp 8world Facebook, 12 May 2021

金文泰综合诊疗所2027年前迁新址 (Clementi Polyclinic to be redeveloped at new site by 2027)

​Senior Minister of State for Health Janil Puthucheary announced that Clementi Polyclinic will be redeveloped at a new site by 2027. It will be more spacious and incorporate more elderly-friendly and accessibility features.

• The Straits Times, Page A9, 6 March 2021

• 8world Online,5 March 2021
  

Unsightly ‘Christmas tree’: SafeEntry stickers creating eyesores in public places

​The Straits Times carried statements from Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, Jurong Community Hospital, and National University Polyclinics in response to more sightings of SafeEntry stickers being pasted indiscriminately on public property around the hospital and polyclinics, and made mention of the mitigating measures implemented by these institutions.

【冠状病毒19】70岁及以上年长者 即日起开始接种 (Vaccinations begin for seniors aged 70 and above)

Singapore began its nationwide Covid-19 vaccination programme for seniors aged 70 and above yesterday. Vaccination sites include vaccination centres, polyclinics and Public Health Preparedness Clinics.
 
Channel 8 visited Bukit Batok Polyclinic yesterday where about 300 patients registered for vaccination appointments. Two elderly patients were interviewed about their positive vaccination experiences at the polyclinic.

3家综合诊所外 I’m OK 贴纸贴满柱子交通灯 (‘I’m OK’ stickers pasted on hand railings and traffic light poles outside 3 polyclinics)

​Members of public shared their observations of temperature screening stickers being pasted on public property outside Pioneer, Jurong, and Choa Chu Kang polyclinics.

 When queried, a spokesperson from National University Polyclinics said that from the beginning of the pandemic, the polyclinics have put up boards at the exits so that patients and caregivers can leave their stickers there before leaving the premises.

 The spokesperson also said, "We will continue to remind our patients to paste their stickers on the boards provided or to dispose of them in litter bins, and to play their part in keeping our environment clean."

ST Forum: Scanner takes temperature of patients

​In response to Ms Candice Yeo’s letter (Why no temperature-taking at polyclinic?), Dr Franco Wong, Head of Jurong Polyclinic, clarified that the temperature of all patients and caregivers is taken before they enter the polyclinic, and that the clinic uses a wall-mounted thermal scanner which is monitored by staff at the entrance.

Christy Chung and Aaron Kwok in their 50s: The truth about celeb diets and workouts

​Dr Kwan Yew Seng from Pioneer Polyclinic weighed in on exercise and diet in this article – about how older celebrities maintain their figures, and whether one can achieve the same results as they get older.

用健康美食 填满圣诞餐盘 (Fill your Christmas plate with healthy food)

Ms Bernice Tan, Dietitian, National University Polyclinics, shared tips on healthy eating during the festive season.

仁心护士义工 (Kind-hearted nurse volunteer)

​One of the 2020 Healthcare Humanity Awardees is Ms Chee Wan Lin, Senior Staff Nurse, Choa Chu Kang Polyclinic, who actively volunteers outside of work. She shared about her volunteer work and what motivates her to continue volunteering.

More polyclinics to have telehealth programme for hypertension patients

A telehealth programme for patients with high blood pressure (BP) is being rolled out by all three polyclinic clusters, enabling patients to monitor their BP at home with the aid of a Bluetooth-enabled device that automatically transmits the readings to a polyclinic care team. The programme will particularly benefit patients who have poorly controlled BP levels, busy lifestyles, or are less ambulant.

For NUP, the home BP monitoring programme will first be rolled out at Clementi Polyclinic in the first half of 2021.

• Lianhe Zaobao, 3 November 2020
  

• Channel 8 (News at 10), 3 November 2020

• Capital (958FM) 3 November 2020
  

Stress less, eat right

More people in Singapore are overeating or binge eating to cope with increased stress during the Covid-19 pandemic.
 
Dr Cheah Ming Hann, Family Physician (Jurong Polyclinic), noted that some patients are having a more difficult time controlling their diet as they lead a sedentary lifestyle during this period.
 
Ms Toh Hui Moon, Senior Clinical Psychologist (National University Polyclinics), explained that an individual’s survival mechanism known as the fight-or-flight response is triggered under stressful situations, and if prolonged, results in an increase in cortisol which increases our appetite.
 
Ms Lynette Goh, Principal Dietitian (National University Polyclinics) advised individuals to practice mindful eating by being aware of the types of food consumed as well as how the food is prepared.