Health Check Ep 71: Why lifelong immunity from Covid-19 is unlikely

15:54 mins

Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

Singapore is gradually opening its borders to allow for quarantine-free travel as it moves towards a new normal of living with Covid-19. However, at home, restrictions remain in place to protect the unvaccinated seniors and prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed.

The country is seeing very high numbers of daily Covid-19 cases, with a considerable number of people in the hospitals and about 10 or more dying from complications linked to Covid-19. Unvaccinated older adults account for most of these deaths, though some vaccinated people have also succumbed to the complications of the disease.

ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks with Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang, an expert on infectious diseases at the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health to find out more.
Are daily deaths expected in the year ahead, and will this number ever be reduced? (0:35)
Endemics always see infections come and go in waves, and Covid-19 is no different (4:40)
What is known about vaccinated elderly succumbing to Covid-19? (5:22)
Moderation is key to maintaining the balance between staying at home and going out for social benefits (7:00)
Likelihood of lifelong immunity from the first two standard Covid-19 jabs and a booster is unlikely, so yearly boosters should be expected (10:35)
Views on vaccinating children with only one dose of MRNA vaccines, based on medical opinions in Europe and US (13:47)

Produced by: Joyce Teo (joyceteo@sph.com.sg), Penelope Lee and Fa'izah Sani

Edited by: Penelope Lee and Hadyu Rahim

Follow Health Check Podcast here and rate us:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRX

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6Wv

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN

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Discover ST's special edition podcasts:

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2

Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa

Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn

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Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

#healthcheck

Health Check Ep 71: Why lifelong immunity from Covid-19 is unlikely
15:54 mins
Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.
Singapore is gradually opening its borders to allow for quarantine-free travel as it moves towards a new normal of living with Covid-19. However, at home, restrictions remain in place to protect the unvaccinated seniors and prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed.
The country is seeing very high numbers of daily Covid-19 cases, with a considerable number of people in the hospitals and about 10 or more dying from complications linked to Covid-19. Unvaccinated older adults account for most of these deaths, though some vaccinated people have also succumbed to the complications of the disease.
ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks with Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang, an expert on infectious diseases at the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health to find out more.
<ol>
<li>Are daily deaths expected in the year ahead, and will this number ever be reduced? (0:35)</li>
<li>Endemics always see infections come and go in waves, and Covid-19 is no different (4:40)</li>
<li>What is known about vaccinated elderly succumbing to Covid-19? (5:22)</li>
<li>Moderation is key to maintaining the balance between staying at home and going out for social benefits (7:00)</li>
<li>Likelihood of lifelong immunity from the first two standard Covid-19 jabs and a booster is unlikely, so yearly boosters should be expected (10:35)</li>
<li>Views on vaccinating children with only one dose of MRNA vaccines, based on medical opinions in Europe and US (13:47)</li>
</ol>
Produced by: Joyce Teo (<a href="mailto:joyceteo@sph.com.sg">joyceteo@sph.com.sg</a>), Penelope Lee and Fa'izah Sani
Edited by: Penelope Lee and Hadyu Rahim
Follow Health Check Podcast here and rate us:
Channel: <a href="https://str.sg/JWaN">https://str.sg/JWaN</a>
Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://str.sg/JWRX">https://str.sg/JWRX</a>
Spotify: <a href="https://str.sg/JWaQ">https://str.sg/JWaQ</a>
Google Podcasts: <a href="https://str.sg/J6Wv">https://str.sg/J6Wv</a> 
SPH Awedio app:<a href="https://www.awedio.sg/"> https://www.awedio.sg/</a>
Website: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>
Read Joyce Teo's stories: <a href="https://str.sg/JbxN">https://str.sg/JbxN</a>
---
Discover ST's special edition podcasts:
The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: <a href="https://str.sg/wuZ2">https://str.sg/wuZ2</a>
Stop Scams: <a href="https://str.sg/wuZB">https://str.sg/wuZB</a>
Singapore's War On Covid: <a href="https://str.sg/wuJa">https://str.sg/wuJa</a>
Invisible Asia:<a href="https://str.sg/wuZn"> https://str.sg/wuZn</a>
---
Discover more ST podcast series:
Asian Insider: <a href="https://str.sg/JWa7">https://str.sg/JWa7</a>
Green Pulse: <a href="https://str.sg/JWaf">https://str.sg/JWaf</a>
In Your Opinion: <a href="https://str.sg/w7Qt">https://str.sg/w7Qt</a>
Your Money &amp; Career: <a href="https://str.sg/wB2m">https://str.sg/wB2m</a>
#PopVultures: <a href="https://str.sg/JWad">https://str.sg/JWad</a>
ST Sports Talk: <a href="https://str.sg/JWRE">https://str.sg/JWRE</a>
Bookmark This!: <a href="https://str.sg/JWas">https://str.sg/JWas</a>
Lunch With Sumiko: <a href="https://str.sg/J6hQ">https://str.sg/J6hQ</a>
Discover ST Podcasts: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
Discover BT Podcasts: <a href="https://bt.sg/pcPL">https://bt.sg/pcPL</a>
Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!
#healthcheck

Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times and expert guests help you make sense of health matters that affect you.

Podcaster: Joyce Teo

Produced by podcast editor Ernest Luis & The Straits Times, SPH Media Trust.

Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times and expert guests help you make sense of health matters that affect you.
Podcaster: Joyce Teo
Produced by podcast editor Ernest Luis &amp; The Straits Times, SPH Media Trust.

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