With the first batch of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccines arriving by end February, you may be wondering if they're safe for you and your family members. Dato' Dr Musa Mohd Nordin, consultant paediatrician, is one of the country's foremost experts on vaccination. On this special "AMA" episode of Ask A Doctor, you can Ask Musa Anything about COVID-19 vaccines, including whether you should get the shot, is it effective, and are there side effects. 

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In Malaysia, having a car and being able to drive is a symbol of independence, regardless of age. But for the older population, ageing could result in physical and cognitive limitations that affect their ability to drive safely. So how do we keep our elderly loved ones safe, and when is it time for them to give up the keys? Consultant geriatrician Prof Dr Shahrul Bahyah Kamaruzzaman weighs in.

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Today’s children and young people will be the “lost generation” of this COVID-19 pandemic. Not only have they lost at least a year of education, it’s also been a year of lost opportunities and friendships. There has been a lot of talk about access to online learning, but what about access to mental health support for both students and teachers? We find out more from Dr Arman Rashid, Director of Research and Advocacy, SOLS Health; and Lim Jing Yi, Teach for Malaysia.

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Today’s children and young people will be the “lost generation” of this COVID-19 pandemic. Not only have they lost at least a year of education, it’s also been a year of lost opportunities and friendships. There has been a lot of talk about access to online learning, but what about access to mental health support for both students and teachers? We find out more from Dr Arman Rashid, Director of Research and Advocacy, SOLS Health; and Lim Jing Yi, Teach for Malaysia.

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We’ve been warned that pandemics like COVID-19 will become more common, and each one possibly worse than before. But what might the next pandemic look like? We are joined by Prof Wang Linfa, Director of the Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases at the Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore to discuss what we can learn from past pandemics, and how we can be better prepared for the next. With reports that coronaviruses related to SARS-CoV-2 may be found in bats across Asia, Prof Wang also shares why bats are often the reservoirs for zoonotic pathogens, but why they are not to blame for the COVID-19 pandemic and past outbreaks.

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What happens when you’re unable to control your urine? Such a basic and necessary function can lead to many complications in your daily lives. According to the Ministry of Health, up to 30% of Malaysian women have had urinary incontinence at some point. But even though it is a common condition, it is not commonly talked about or addressed to give women relief. We find out more about what causes urinary incontinence, why it’s more common among women, and how you can treat it.

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What happens when you’re unable to control your urine? Such a basic and necessary function can lead to many complications in your daily lives. According to the Ministry of Health, up to 30% of Malaysian women have had urinary incontinence at some point. But even though it is a common condition, it is not commonly talked about or addressed to give women relief. We find out more about what causes urinary incontinence, why it’s more common among women, and how you can treat it.

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As we celebrate the love that is all around this month, consultant clinical psychologist Paul Jambunathan joins us to discuss the role that love plays in our mental well-being, and what love means in a healthy relationship.

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Last month, the Selangor government announced that it intends to purchase 5 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for people living in the state. Significantly, it was also mentioned that some of these doses will be provided to foreign workers at an affordable cost. With no one safe until most of us are vaccinated, public health researcher Dr Mark Cheong joins us to discuss why we need to include vulnerable and marginalised communities, and also take a step back to look at the need for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for all countries, rich and poor alike.

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Throughout the pandemic in 2020, the promise of a COVID-19 vaccine gave hope to people that there would be an end in sight to this crisis. Now that several vaccines have been approved, we are battling another crisis: one of vaccine hesitancy. We discuss whether this will affect vaccine uptake and our ability to battle the disease.

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