Latest news with #Chia
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Singaporean actress Kimberly Chia shares 'embarrassing' reason behind hospitalisation
SINGAPORE: Actress Kimberly Chia has openly discussed the surprising and "embarrassing" cause of her recent hospital visit. In a recent Instagram post, the 29-year-old artiste revealed she experienced intense back pain that unexpectedly worsened one morning. "I had been having a dull, bearable backache which I ignored," she shared alongside a video of herself being wheeled into a hospital on a stretcher. "Then on Thursday morning, while getting ready for work and brushing my teeth, I gagged while cleaning my tongue and suddenly bent forward." That sudden movement triggered a sharp pain in her back. "I felt something snap, and it was so painful I saw stars. I blacked out briefly, though I was still conscious. I screamed for my husband, and he helped me lie down. "I was crying and couldn't move. Every attempt to get up was excruciating, so we called an ambulance." Chia, who is married to 37-year-old businessman Vincent Yeo and is a mother to a three-year-old son, was kept overnight for observation. "Everything looked normal, but the pain was intense. I was on strong painkillers, yet the pain didn't ease," she wrote. "I couldn't sit up or move. It's still painful now, but I'm feeling better and can move slowly." Laughing at the situation, she added: "I was reluctant to share the real reason because it's so embarrassing?! Haha." Best known for her role in the 2011 crime drama 'On The Fringe', Chia recently made a cameo in the 2024 horror-comedy 'The Chosen One'. In an interview with Lianhe Zaobao published on July 21 after her discharge, Chia said she is now recovering and plans to begin physical therapy, as well as undergo an orthopaedic assessment. Although she maintains a regular fitness routine and has no history of back problems, the injury has temporarily limited her movements. "I can walk, but I can't bend over or make large movements, and I have to turn slowly," she explained. "I can't drive either. Pressing the accelerator or brake affects my back. But other than that, I'm okay."
The Star
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Actress Kimberly Chia hospitalised due to back pain after brushing her teeth
The 29-year-old says she will undergo physical therapy and arrange for an orthopaedic examination. Photo: Kimberly Chia/Instagram Singaporean actress Kimberly Chia has revealed the 'embarrassing' reason for her recent hospitalisation. She also clarified that her condition was probably caused by a muscle pull or strain and not a slipped disc. 'I was already having back pains. An achy back pain that was bearable which I ignored,' the 29-year-old wrote on Instagram on July 18, posting a video of herself on a stretcher and being sent to hospital. 'Then came Thursday morning, when I was preparing for work and brushing my teeth. I had a gag reflex while brushing my tongue and bent forwards in a jerk.' Chia, who is married to 37-year-old businessman Vincent Yeo and has a three-year-old son, said that was when she felt something 'snap'. 'It was a sharp pain that made me see stars. Blacked out but still conscious,' she wrote. 'I shouted for my husband and he brought me to lie down. I was crying and I couldn't move. Tried to get up, but it hurt so badly. So, we decided to call the ambulance.' 'All was normal, but it still hurts. I was given some pretty heavy painkillers, but my pain score didn't drop,' Chia wrote. 'Couldn't move, couldn't sit up. So, I had to stay one night for observation. It's still painful now, but I feel better and can move about, albeit slowly.' 'Reluctant to share the real reason because so embarrassing?! Haha,' she added. Chia, who rose to fame after starring in the crime drama On The Fringe (2011), made a cameo in horror-comedy film The Chosen One (2024). She told Lianhe Zaobao in an interview that was published online on July 21 after she was discharged from the hospital that she is feeling better. Chia said she will undergo physical therapy and arrange for an orthopaedic examination. The actress, who exercises regularly, said she did not have any previous back injuries. 'I can walk now, but I can't bend over or make big movements, and I have to turn around slowly,' she told the Chinese-language newspaper. 'I can't drive either, because stepping on the accelerator and brake will affect my back. Everything else is OK.' – The Straits Times/Asia News Network
New Paper
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Paper
'Embarassing': Actress Kimberly Chia hospitalised after injuring back while brushing her teeth
Home-grown actress Kimberly Chia has revealed the "embarrassing" reason for her recent hospitalisation. She also clarified that her condition was probably caused by a muscle pull or strain and not a slipped disc. "I was already having back pains. An achy back pain that was bearable which I ignored," the 29-year-old wrote on Instagram on July 18, posting a video of herself on a stretcher and being sent to hospital. "Then came Thursday morning, when I was preparing for work and brushing my teeth. I had a gag reflex while brushing my tongue and bent forwards in a jerk." Chia, who is married to 37-year-old businessman Vincent Yeo and has a three-year-old son, said that was when she felt something "snap". "It was a sharp pain that made me see stars. Blacked out but still conscious," she wrote. "I shouted for my husband and he brought me to lie down. I was crying and I couldn't move. Tried to get up, but it hurt so badly. So, we decided to call the ambulance." The NoonTalk Media artiste said she was admitted to hospital and got an X-ray. "All was normal, but it still hurts. I was given some pretty heavy painkillers, but my pain score didn't drop," Chia wrote. "Couldn't move, couldn't sit up. So, I had to stay one night for observation. It's still painful now, but I feel better and can move about, albeit slowly." "Reluctant to share the real reason because so embarrassing?! Haha," she added. Chia, who rose to fame after starring in the crime drama On The Fringe (2011), made a cameo in horror-comedy film The Chosen One (2024). She told Lianhe Zaobao in an interview that was published online on July 21 after she was discharged from the hospital that she is feeling better. Chia said she will undergo physical therapy and arrange for an orthopaedic examination. The actress, who exercises regularly, said she did not have any previous back injuries. "I can walk now, but I can't bend over or make big movements, and I have to turn around slowly," she told the Chinese-language newspaper. "I can't drive either, because stepping on the accelerator and brake will affect my back. Everything else is okay."
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Actress Kimberly Chia hospitalised due to back pain after brushing her teeth
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Kimberly Chia has been discharged from hospital after one night of observation. SINGAPORE - Home-grown actress Kimberly Chia has revealed the 'embarrassing' reason for her recent hospitalisation. She also clarified that her condition was probably caused by a muscle pull or strain and not a slip disc. 'I was already having back pains. An achy back pain that was bearable which I ignored,' the 29-year-old wrote on Instagram on July 18, sharing a video of herself on a stretcher and being sent to hospital. 'Then came Thursday morning, when I was preparing for work and brushing my teeth. I had a gag reflex while brushing my tongue and bent forwards in a jerk.' Chia, who is married to 37-year-old businessman Vincent Yeo and has a three-year-old son, said that was when she felt something 'snap'. 'It was a sharp pain that made me see stars. Blacked out but still conscious,' she wrote. 'I shouted for my husband and he brought me to lie down. I was crying and I couldn't move. Tried to get up but it hurt so badly. So we decided to call the ambulance.' The NoonTalk Media artiste said she was admitted to hospital and got an X-ray. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 2 workers stranded on gondola dangling outside Raffles City Tower rescued by SCDF Asia Japan PM Ishiba apologises to his party for election loss, vows to stay in office to deal with US tariff talks Business $1.1 billion allocated to three fund managers to boost Singapore stock market: MAS Singapore Proof & Company Spirits closes Singapore distribution business Life Travel Journal: Safari tourism with a side of moral crisis Singapore Mandai Wildlife Group group CEO Mike Barclay to retire; Bennett Neo named as successor Singapore Jail, caning for man who held metal rod to cashier's neck in failed robbery attempt Singapore Fresh charge for woman who harassed nurse during pandemic, created ruckus at lion dance competition 'All was normal but it still hurts. I was given some pretty heavy painkillers but my pain score didn't drop,' Chia wrote. 'Couldn't move, couldn't sit up. So I had to stay one night for observation. It's still painful now but I feel better and can move about, albeit slowly.' 'Reluctant to share the real reason because so embarrassing?! Haha', she added. Chia, who rose to fame after starring in the crime drama On The Fringe (2011), recently made a cameo in horror-comedy film The Chosen One (2024). She told Lianhe Zaobao in an interview that was published online on July 21 she was discharged from the hospital that she is feeling better. Chia said she will undergo physical therapy and arrange for an orthopedic examination. The actress, who exercises regularly, said she did not have any previous back injuries. 'I can walk now, but I can't bend over or make big movements, and I have to turn around slowly,' she told the Chinese-language newspaper. 'I can't drive either, because stepping on the accelerator and brake will affect my back. Everything else is okay.'
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Straits Times
Trial of new dengue vaccine begins recruitment for child participants in Singapore
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The study's lead investigator in Singapore, Assistant Professor Chia Po Ying (left), and Dr Zhong Youjia, another investigator on the study. SINGAPORE – A phase three clinical trial is being conducted here to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a new quadrivalent dengue vaccine in children aged two to 17. Developed by US-based pharmaceutical firm MSD, V181 is a single-dose vaccine that aims to provide protection against all four serotypes, or strains, of the dengue virus. Phase three clinical trials are typically the last stage of testing before a drug's details and clinical trial results are submitted to the regulatory authorities for approval. The study's lead investigator in Singapore, Assistant Professor Chia Po Ying, noted that V181 is a live-attenuated vaccine, which uses weakened versions of all four dengue serotypes. 'Using the weakened forms of all these four dengue serotypes stimulates a human immune response to create protection against dengue infection in future,' said Prof Chia, who also heads the National Centre for Infectious Diseases Research Office. The new study here hopes to recruit at least 700 healthy children between the ages of two and 17, including both those who have previously contracted dengue and those who have never had the disease, said Dr Zhong Youjia, another investigator on the study. This particular study focuses on children as they are more vulnerable to dengue and are also at a greater risk of severe infection, said the associate consultant at National University Hospital's (NUH) Khoo Teck Puat – National University Children's Medical Institute. Side effects from the vaccine have been mild and short-lived, said Prof Chia, noting that they include muscle aches and fatigue. Children enrolled in the study will be randomly chosen to get a single shot of either the vaccine or a placebo. 'There have been no serious adverse events linked to vaccination with V181 to date, and the previous trials actually have shown a very good and favourable safety profile,' Prof Chia said. In Singapore, the study is being conducted at NUH and Tan Tock Seng Hospital, which have already started recruiting participants. Only a handful of children have been recruited so far for the study here, which began in June, said Dr Zhong. A third recruitment site, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, is also in the works. As at July 12, there have been 2,816 dengue cases recorded here in 2025, according to figures from the National Environment Agency (NEA). In May, NEA noted that the number of dengue cases recorded here between January and May 2025 has dropped by about 74 per cent from the same period in 2024. Worldwide, the study aims to enrol about 12,000 healthy children, also between the ages of two and 17, who will receive either a single dose of V181 or a placebo. It aims to include more than 30 trial sites in dengue endemic areas in the Asia-Pacific, including Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Developing effective dengue vaccines has been difficult as the four serotypes are effectively four different viruses, said Prof Chia. While getting infected by one serotype grants lifelong protection against that particular strain, it provides only short-term protection against the other three, she said. This short-term protection eventually wanes, she noted, adding that those who contract dengue more than once risk antibody-dependent enhancement – a phenomenon where antibodies that are generated due to a vaccine or prior infection actually increase the severity of an infection. Dr Zhong noted this can result in dengue shock syndrome, otherwise known as dengue haemorrhagic fever, a potentially life-threatening complication with symptoms including circulatory failure. Designing a dengue vaccine has been challenging as it has to take into account this phenomenon, Prof Chia said. Should the trials be successful and the vaccine meet regulatory requirements, V181 could be commercially available as early as within the next three to five years, said Dr Zhong. Dr Paula Annunziato, senior vice-president for infectious diseases and vaccines global clinical development at MSD Research Laboratories, noted that half the world's population live in areas at risk for dengue. 'If successful, V181 could provide an important single-dose option for at-risk populations, regardless of previous exposure to dengue, to help reduce the significant burden around the globe,' she said. Dengvaxia, developed by Sanofi Pasteur, is currently the only dengue vaccine approved for use in Singapore. However, it is available only for those between 12 and 45 years old who have previously been infected and poses an increased risk of causing severe dengue in those who have never been infected. In May 2024, another quadrivalent vaccine, Qdenga, received pre-qualification from the World Health Organisation (WHO) – a process that aims to ensure the safety and efficacy of treatments – with WHO recommending the vaccine's use for children aged between six and 16 in dengue-prone areas. Developed by Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda, Qdenga was made available in Malaysia in June 2024 . Qdenga was submitted for approval here in 2022. However, the following year, the Health Sciences Authority said Takeda had withdrawn its application. The authority said then that the company could submit another application with further clinical data on the vaccine meeting the 'required safety, efficacy and quality standards for use locally'.
