Member Testifies About Saline Choice in COVID-19 Vaccine Case

A member of the anti-vaccination group Healing the Divide testified on August 28, 2023, revealing he was offered a choice between the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine and a saline injection at a clinic. Mr. Cedric Lim Jun Qi, a 35-year-old private hire and delivery driver, took the stand during the trial against the group’s founder, Iris Koh Hsiao Pei, along with Dr. Jipson Quah and his assistant, Thomas Chua Cheng Soon. Dr. Quah faces 17 charges for allegedly misrepresenting patient vaccination statuses to the Health Promotion Board.

Mr. Lim’s testimony unfolded in a Singapore court, where he detailed his experience as a prosecution witness. Under questioning from Deputy Public Prosecutor Kelvin Chong, Mr. Lim explained that he had minimal interactions with the accused, aside from meeting Chua at a police station and visiting Dr. Quah’s clinic.

As a member of the Healing the Divide Telegram group, Mr. Lim had shared his concerns about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, stating, “I want to keep my job… so with a heavy heart I’m going to take the vaccine.” This anxiety stemmed from his belief in the potential harmful effects of the vaccine, leading him to adopt a “wait and see approach.”

Mr. Lim recounted a phone call from Koh prior to his vaccination appointment in January 2022. She suggested he consider the Sinopharm vaccine, claiming a doctor could administer it based on his body weight. Despite his reservations, Mr. Lim believed the dosage adjustments made sense and left the queue at a Punggol clinic to visit Dr. Quah’s clinic in Yishun.

At the Yishun clinic, Mr. Lim expressed his fear regarding the vaccine’s unknown contents. He explained that he preferred a non-mRNA vaccine, favoring Sinopharm over options like Pfizer or Moderna. In response, Dr. Quah attempted to reassure him and presented two translucent saline tubes alongside Sinopharm boxes.

Mr. Lim recalled, “He showed me… I just say, OK, OK, saline.” Ultimately, he chose the saline injection out of fear, while his wife opted for the Sinopharm vaccine. Following the injection, Dr. Quah congratulated them, prompting confusion for Mr. Lim as he had chosen saline.

After the appointment, Mr. Lim discovered there was no record of his vaccination in Dr. Quah’s system, which prompted him to return to the Punggol clinic for another jab. He needed proof of vaccination to maintain his job. Attempts to contact Dr. Quah’s clinic failed, so he reached out to Koh, who connected him with Chua. Mr. Lim received a memo from Dr. Quah confirming his vaccination.

When asked about his decision to accept the saline solution instead of the Sinopharm vaccine, Mr. Lim stated, “Because at that time, I’m scared… out of fear I just say, OK, OK, saline.” He admitted he did not see what was injected and felt uncertain about the contents of the syringe.

During the proceedings, Mr. Chong raised concerns about inconsistencies in Mr. Lim’s previous statements, indicating a need to cross-examine him further. The trial is ongoing, with Dr. Quah represented by lawyer Mr. Adrian Wee and Koh defended by Mr. Wee Pan Lee. Chua remains unrepresented.