While traditional Chinese medicine Lianhua Qingwen products are categorized as Chinese proprietary medicine in Singapore for the relief of cold and flu symptoms, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has not approved them for the treatment of COVID-19.
HSA stated on Wednesday that statements circulating on social media and in Telegram chat groups that the products can protect against COVID-19 are false.
"To date, there is no scientific evidence from randomised clinical trials to show that any herbal product, including Lianhua Qingwen products, can be used to prevent or treat Covid-19," said the authority.
It went on to say that all herbal cold and flu treatments, including Chinese proprietary medicine, should only be used to treat symptoms including headaches, runny or clogged noses, sore throats, and coughs.
The HSA warned the public not to believe unverified claims or disseminate false rumors that herbal products can prevent or treat COVID-19.
Sellers that deceptively advertise items as preventing or treating COVID-19 face up to two years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both if proved guilty.
Any product that claims to treat COVID-19 must first be submitted to HSA for scientific evidence assessment and registration before it may be sold in Singapore.
The HSA also issued a warning about the potential of adverse effects, as well as their frequency, in people who received COVID-19 mRNA vaccine booster shots, which are similar to the first two vaccination doses.
Since the booster doses were rolled out on Sept. 15, 200 suspected adverse events, or 0.02%, have been reported out of 854,268 people who have gotten them. Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty or Moderna/Spikevax vaccinations were linked to these.
Swelling of the eyelids, face, and lips, chest discomfort, palpitation, shortness of breath, fever, generalized weakness, and disorientation are among the symptoms reported.
Myocarditis, seizures, blood clots, platelet count decline, fluid overload, and angioedema were among the 10 major adverse event reports, which accounted for 0.001% of all doses provided.
"These typically resolve within a few days," HSA added.
The Ministry of Health in Singapore confirmed 2,069 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, raising the total number of cases in the country to 239,272, as well as eight fatalities from the disease.
On Monday, Singapore reported less than 2,000 cases for the first time since Nov. 5. It's also the 57th day in a row that COVID-19 has claimed the lives of people in Singapore, with 178 deaths so far this month.
