News: The Straits Times - 25 May 2009

Adults, if you've not had chicken pox, get a jab: SM
By Zakir Hussain



(Picture: SM Goh at the Saucony 100Plus Passion Run yesterday at East Coast Park. - ST Photo)

SENIOR Minister Goh Chok Tong, who recovered from a recent bout of chicken pox, has this advice for adults: Check if you had the disease. If not, get an injection against it.

His reason: There are risks of complications, including pneumonia, throat and brain inflammation. Also, there is a risk of going blind, he said yesterday, recounting his experience with the disease:

'My right eye was quite puffy while I was in hospital, and it was inflamed. I asked what could have happened, they said the cornea could be affected, the retina could get affected, in extreme cases you could go blind.'

He was speaking to reporters after walking 2km of a sports event at the East Coast Park - his first community event since his illness.

'I still have the battle scars,' he said, referring to the red spots victims have. 'It may take two to three weeks more before they disappear, I hope totally.'

Mr Goh, 67, was warded on May 4 and discharged nine days later.

Some 11,000 runners took part in the Saucony 100 Plus Passion Run organised by the Geylang Serai grassroots groups.

Mr Goh, who received the all-clear after a blood test on Saturday, said vaccinations are a way to shield against the disease, especially for older adults who might not have had chicken pox.

'You get it as an older adult, it's very troublesome. There could be complications,' he added.

-end of ST article