A year has passed since we were brought to a standstill by the COVID-19 pandemic. The coronavirus not only claimed lives and livelihoods, it is also wrecking a devastating effect on all aspects of life. In October last year, the World Health Organization released a statement supporting the achieving of herd immunity through vaccination. Indeed, the world has rallied to facilitate the creation and development of a vaccine against COVID-19. The speed in which it took a vaccine to wide spread use has been monumental. As the Philippine government prepares to roll out its vaccination drive, the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy Alumni – Philippines Chapter in partnership with the National University of Singapore Alumni – Manila Chapter held an information e-session for alumni by alumni on the various COVID-19 vaccines developed as well as the Philippine government’s vaccination strategy. Two of the distinguished speakers were NUS alumni from the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health. A total of 35 NUS alumni attended, 20 of whom were from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. A social mixer followed after the programme to connect alumni from various Schools under the NUS system.
Dr. Venus Oliva Cloma-Rosales, MD, MPH, is an alumna of the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore. She shared her insights on the science of vaccines.
Dr. Aileen Riel-Espina shared her insights on vaccine policies and developments by the Philippine authorities, while Dr. Vivien Fe Fadrilan-Camacho, an MPH alumna from the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, talked about how to increase vaccine confidence in the workplace.
LKYSPP alumni connected with other NUS alumni after the information session.
NUS alumni from Architecture, Business School, School of Design and Environment, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy actively participated in the discussion on COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination.
The event was moderated by Mr. Zak Yuson, MPP 2010 alumnus. The Certificates of Recognition were awarded to Dr. Cloma-Rosales, Dr. Espina, Dr. Camacho, and Mr. Yuson by Ms. Jamie Duque-Daileg and Mr. Richard Tan, President of LKYSPP Alumni – Philippines Chapter and NUS Alumni – Manila Chapter, respectively.
