Vaccine Will Be Able To Prevent New Virus Strain, NUS's Dr Tambyah Says

The transcript discusses the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant in Singapore and the confidence in vaccines to combat it. It covers the adaptability of vaccines, drawing parallels with flu vaccines, and the historical success of vaccines like the polio vaccine. The discussion includes a comparison of old and new vaccine technologies, such as mRNA, and the scrutiny they undergo. The speaker shares personal vaccine preferences and highlights the importance of monitoring long-term effects.

What is the main reason the speaker is confident that the vaccine will work against the new variant?

• The variant is an escape mutant.

• The variant emerged before the vaccine rollout.

• The variant was first detected in Singapore.

• The variant is resistant to all vaccines.

What is the speaker's view on the adaptability of vaccines to new strains?

• It is only possible with traditional vaccine technology.

• It is impossible to adapt vaccines to new strains.

• It requires starting from scratch for each new strain.

• It is relatively easy to tweak vaccines for new strains.

What historical event is compared to the current vaccine rollout?

• The rollout of the polio vaccine.

• The eradication of smallpox.

• The discovery of penicillin.

• The development of the first flu vaccine.

Which country is using a 100-year-old vaccine technology?

• Brazil

• China

• India

• United States

What is a key concern about the new mRNA vaccines?

• Their long-term effects are unknown.

• They integrate into the cell nucleus.

• They are based on 100-year-old technology.

• They have a long half-life.

What is the main advantage of mRNA vaccines according to the speaker?

• They require multiple doses.

• They are based on old technology.

• They have a short half-life.

• They are difficult to produce.

What is the speaker's personal preference for a type of vaccine?

• A vaccine using mRNA technology.

• A vaccine using inactivated virus technology.

• A vaccine using live attenuated virus.

• A vaccine using recombinant protein technology.