Expand your knowledge of COVID-19
Whatever your age or health status, preventing severe COVID-19 is a priority. Learning all you can about COVID-19 can help protect you and those around you. Protecting yourself and those around you starts with understanding COVID-19. Speak to your doctor about COVID-19 protection and to see how updated vaccination can fit into your health routine, helping you maintain your lifestyle and lower the risk of severe illness or long COVID.
Frequently asked questions
COVID-19 spreads primarily through small respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.16 It can also spread by direct contact, such as touching or shaking hands, and by touching surfaces contaminated with the virus and then touching your face without washing your hands first.17
Yes, COVID-19 can lead to health complications. For some people, especially older adults or those with existing health conditions, it can cause serious problems like pneumonia18, heart issues19, or worsening of chronic illnesses20. Even after recovery, some people may continue to feel tired or have ongoing symptoms, sometimes called 'long COVID'.21
One way to protect yourself from COVID-19 is by staying updated with vaccination, as they are updated to match the latest virus strains.22 Frequent handwashing, wearing masks in crowded areas and staying home when feeling unwell can help lower the chance of getting infected and spreading the virus to others.23
Last season’s COVID-19 vaccines were designed to protect against the virus strains spreading at that time.24,26 This season’s vaccines are updated to better match against variants circulating now.25 This helps train your immunity and gives better protection against getting sick from the new strain.24,26
Symptoms of COVID-19 and flu can appear similar, but these infections are caused by different viruses.27 Specific testing is required to identify the virus and to tell them apart. Please consult your healthcare provider for more information.
Yes they can be given at the same time.28 Each vaccine is administered separately – they are not mixed in the same syringe. The vaccines can be given in the same arm (at different injection sites) or in different arms.29 Getting both vaccines in the same doctor’s visit makes it more convenient to get protected against both illnesses at once.30
After vaccination, mild side effects such as arm pain, tiredness, headache, or fever may occur and usually resolve within a few days. Rest, adequate hydration, and use of pain or fever relief can help ease discomfort. Immediate medical attention is recommended if experiencing rashes, chest pain or shortness of breath.22
Yes, you can. While one’s primary doses need to be of the same brand, additional doses of COVID-19 vaccine can be a different brand and vaccine composition.31 Research has shown that this approach may lead to a higher immune response.32
Resources
WHO COVID-19 Information
External Link to World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 info: global perspectives, situation reports, technical guidance, and public advice.
Ministry of Health
External Link to Singapore's Ministry of Health's Update on the COVID-19 situation
The Science of mRNA Vaccine
External link to Moderna corporate site
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People 65 Years and Older: Flu and High-Risk [Internet]. Atlanta (GA): CDC; Sept 5, 2024 [cited 2025 Sep 24]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/65over.htm
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Risk Factors for Severe COVID-19 [Internet]. Atlanta (GA): CDC; [last updated unknown] [cited 2025 Sep 24]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/covid/riskfactors/index.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Getting a Flu Vaccine and Other Recommended Vaccines at the Same Time [Internet]. Atlanta (GA): CDC; Sept 17, 2024 [cited 2025 Sep 24]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines/coadministration
- Ministry of Finance. 2022. Assessment of the Impact of Key COVID-19 Budget Measures. https://www.mof.gov.sg/news-publications/featured-reports
- Ministry of Health Singapore. COVID-19 National Vaccination Programme. 2025, October 24. https://www.moh.gov.sg/seeking-healthcare/overview-of-diseases/covid-19-national-vaccination-programme/
- Ministry of Health Singapore. 2022, September. Report on excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic up to June 2022. https://www.moh.gov.sg/others/resources-and-statistics/report-on-excess-mortality-during-covid-19
- Kuang S, et al. 2023, December 8. Experiences of Canadians with long-term symptoms following COVID-19. Statistics Canada. December 2023. https://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/9.931251/publication.html
- CDC. (2025, March 10). Symptoms of COVID-19. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/signs-symptoms/index.html
- Ministry of Health. (2024, July 2). Status of COVID-19 Vaccination Among Singaporeans and Reasons for Not Taking Additional Booster Shots. https://www.moh.gov.sg/newsroom/status-of-covid-19-vaccination-among-singaporeans-and-reasons-for-not-taking-additional-booster-shots
- Data.gov.sg. (2024, June 6). Average daily hospitalised / ICU cases by Epi-week. URL: https://beta.data.gov.sg/ Search field: number of covid-19 infections by epi-week.
- Low L, L, et al. 2019, November 3. Epidemiologic Characteristics of Multimorbidity and Sociodemographic Factors Associated With Multimorbidity in a Rapidly Aging Asian Country. JAMA Network Open. 2019;2(11):e1915245. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.15245 (Reprinted)
- Moghadas, S.M. (2021, January 30). The Impact of Vaccination on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreaks in the United States. Clinical Infectious Disease. 2021;73(12):2257–64. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciab079
- CDC. 2025, February 6. Underlying Conditions and the Higher Risk for Severe COVID-19. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/hcp/clinical-care/underlying-conditions.html
- World Health Organization. (2025, May 15). Statement on the antigen composition of COVID-19 vaccines. Available at: https://www.who.int/news/item/15-05-2025-statement-on-the-antigen-composition-of-covid-19-vaccines
- Ask.gov.sg. Can I receive other non-COVID-19 vaccines around the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine? https://ask.gov.sg/psq/post/can-i-receive-other-non-covid19-vaccines...
- CDC COVID-19. About COVID-19. Atlanta (GA): Center for Disease Control and Prevention; 2024 Jun 13 [cited 2025 Sep 24]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/covid/about/index.html
- World Health Organization. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Internet. Geneva: World Health Organization; [cited 2025 Sep 24]. Available from: https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1
- Ufuk F, Savaş R. COVID-19 pneumonia: lessons learned, challenges, and preparing for the future. Diagn Interv Radiol. 2022 Nov;28(6):576-585. doi:10.5152/dir.2022.221881. PMID: 36550758; PMCID: PMC9885718.
- Hilser, J. R., et al. (2024, Oct 9). COVID-19 Is a Coronary Artery Disease Risk Equivalent and Exhibits a Genetic Interaction With ABO Blood Type. Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology, 44(11), 2321–2333. https://doi.org/10.1161/ATVBAHA.124.321001
- Suri, C.,et al. (2024, October 8). Interplay between Lung Diseases and Viral Infections: A Comprehensive Review. Microorganisms, 12(10), 2030. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12102030
- Berends, M. S., et al. (2025, July). Impact of pre-existing comorbidities and multimorbidities, demography and viral variants on post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (‘Long COVID’) in Dutch primary care: A retrospective cohort study. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 156, Article 107912. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2025.107912
- World Health Organization. COVID-19 vaccines: advice [Internet]. Geneva: WHO; last updated October 8, 2024 [cited 2025 Sep 24]. Available from: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/covid-19-vaccines/advice
- Communicable Diseases Agency. COVID-19. Singapore: Government of Singapore; last updated 18 September 2025 [cited 2025 Sep 24]. Available from: https://www.cda.gov.sg/public/diseases/covid-19
- World Health Organization. Statement on the antigen composition of COVID-19 vaccines [Internet]. Geneva: WHO; 15 May 2025 [cited 2025 Sep 24]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news/item/15-05-2025-statement-on-the-antigen-composition-of-covid-19-vaccines
- European Medicines Agency. ETF recommends updating COVID-19 vaccines to target new LPB.1 variant [Internet]. Amsterdam: EMA; 2025 May 16 [cited 2025 Sep 24]. Available from: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/etf-recommends-updating-covid-19-vaccines-target-new-lpb1-variant
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. COVID-19 Vaccines 2025–2026 formula for use in the United States beginning Fall 2025 [Internet]. Silver Spring (MD): FDA; [last updated date unknown] [cited 2025 Sep 24]. Available from: https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/industry-biologics/covid-19-vaccines-2025-2026-formula-use-united-states-beginning-fall-2025
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Similarities and Differences between Flu and COVID-19 [Internet]. Atlanta (GA): CDC; 2024 Sept 17 [cited 2025 Sep 24]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/flu-vs-covid19.htm
- Naficy, A., et al. (2024, Mar 21). No immunological interference or concerns about safety when seasonal quadrivalent influenza vaccine is co-administered with a COVID-19 mRNA-1273 booster vaccine in adults: A randomized trial. Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics, 20(1), 2327736. https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2024.2327736
- Immunize.org. How to Administer Multiple Intramuscular Vaccines to Adults During One Visit [Internet]. Immunize.org; December 4, 2023 [cited 2025 Sep 24]. Available from: https://www.immunize.org/wp-content/uploads/catlg/c2030.pdf
- World Health Organization. [Title unknown – WHO document IRIS handle 10665/346897] [Internet]. Geneva: WHO; [publication date unknown] [cited 2025 Sep 24]. Available from: https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/346897
- Ministry of Health. Can I receive other brands of the same vaccine doses of the same brand? [Internet]. Updated 11 mo ago [cited 2025 Sep 24]. Available from: https://www.moh.gov.sg/psq/post/can-i-receive-other-brands-of-the-same-vaccine-doses-of-the-same-brand?from=topics
- Poh X.Y., et al. (2022, May 11). Antibody Response of Heterologous vs Homologous Messenger RNA Vaccine Boosters Against the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Omicron Variant: Interim Results from the PRIBIVAC Study, a Randomized Clinical Trial. Clin Infect Dis. 2022;75(12):2088-2096. doi:10.1093/cid/ciac345
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