As the COVID-19 vaccines start getting into the arms of the general population, there is a lot of anticipation about the possibility of international travel resuming sometime this year. The use of a vaccine or immunity passport is being touted as the way forward, alongside the rollout of immunisation programmes in many countries. As concerns are raised over the feasibility and ethics of vaccine passports, we get a balanced view from two guests: Assoc Prof Dr Karen A. Grépin, Health Policy Specialist from the School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong; and Datuk Dr Nick Boden, Chief Executive Officer of Immunitee Health Passport.

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The Ministry of Health has reported several local COVID-19 cases involving a more contagious variant that was first detected in South Africa. Not only that, some vaccines are said to be less effective against this variant as well. To find out what we’re doing to keep track of different variants and how this will affect ongoing COVID-19 vaccinations, we’ll be speaking to Khairy Jamaluddin, Minister of Science, Technology & Innovation-cum-Coordinating Minister, National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme, together with consultant urologist Dr George Lee.

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How long does COVID-19 immunity from vaccines last? Will we need booster shots? Why do some people contract COVID-19 twice? Infectious diseases physician Dr Giri Shan Rajahram from Queen Elizabeth II Hospital answers these questions and more in this 101 on COVID-19 immunity. 

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Healthcare workers have been battling at the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic for more than a year, donning restrictive PPEs, and worrying about the risk of contracting COVID-19, all while ensuring that quality healthcare is still provided to everyone who needs it. This World Health Day, we look back on 2020 with two of our healthcare workers, to find out how they are surviving the pandemic - what have they seen and learned in 2020, and most importantly, how they’re coping emotionally and mentally.

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A twinge in your groin or hip when you stand up, some stiffness down your thighs or buttocks, or pain as you settle your weight on one hip – these are among the signs of a hip problem. We get consultant orthopaedic surgeon Dr Rajesh Singh to explain how the hips work, and what to do when hip problems develop.

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We return with our monthly mental health clinic with consultant clinical psychologist Paul Jambunathan. In this segment, we address your concerns regarding mental, emotional and psychosocial issues – with a special focus on how to manage emotions of sadness and find acceptance.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has not been easy for people living with autism and their families. This World Autism Awareness Day, we speak to Hafiz Izzuddin bin Zainudin and a parent, Adli Yahya, who’s also the founder of Autism Cafe Project, to share how they have been coping during the pandemic. With the theme “Inclusion in the Workplace”, we also discuss how the pandemic will impact employment opportunities for people with autism spectrum disorder.

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Artificial intelligence and digital technologies are attractive buzzwords in healthcare today. The current hype is preceded by decades of work in using computer science and data analytics to provide solutions for medical research and healthcare. With our guests Prof Patrice Francois Boursier, Programme Director (Health Informatics & Analytics), International Medical University; and Dr Raymond Choy, Co-Founder & CEO, DOC2US, we look at the big questions in AI and digital health. We also explore what are the advancements that have improved healthcare, as well as the hurdles that remain in making AI and digital health a reality.

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The ophthalmologists say that increasing awareness about glaucoma is a lifelong battle for them. It’s no wonder, considering that glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness among people worldwide. Dato’ Dr Linda Teoh Oon Cheng, consultant ophthalmologist and glaucoma surgeon, shines a light on how serious glaucoma is and how to prevent it.

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April marks the 2nd phase of the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme. While it has been reported that this phase covers the elderly and those with co-morbidities, who exactly is eligible for the jabs, and why is it important for them to be prioritised above the general population? We get the answers from Dr Ho Bee Kiau, Family Medicine Specialist from the Selangor State Health Department.

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