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Due to the pandemic, we have been sailing on the same ocean for almost two years now. However, for the first time in our voyage, the light of the dock has finally been seen. The vaccine developments have signaled that the long wait is nearly over.
According to the Department of Health, the government has already begun its vaccination rollout with Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Sputnik V as the available vaccines in the country. Based on the Rappler Tracker, we need to administer an average of 350,000 to 500,000 doses a day to achieve herd immunity. Despite the 144,402 seven-day average of vaccinated persons as of May 30, we are still quite far from this.
This slow progress is primarily due to the vaccine hesitancy of most Filipinos due to the belief that one brand can induce immunity more effectively than the rest. While there is a surge of information online about the varying efficacy rates of vaccines, brands are not comparable to one another. These gaps are due to the differences in the study designs such as location, timing, and predominant strains which are not sufficient in assessing the vaccines’ overall effect on one’s health.
“The best COVID-19 vaccine is the first one that is available to you,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted on their webpage last May 27, 2021.
Getting the vaccine as early as possible veers you away from the possibility of experiencing severe illness and decreases the chances of transmission. Being vaccinated now is certainly better than risking your life every day, waiting for a particular brand.
Although the pacing is quite slow, we are still well on our way. Many Filipinos, especially those who are most vulnerable such as senior citizens, people with comorbidities, and those living in highly populated areas, have already received their doses.
One of them is Patricia Ocde, a 19-year-old Medical Technology student in FEU Manila, who was vaccinated with Sinovac. She experienced pain at the injection site but did not experience fever. The growing number of COVID-19 cases in her city of residence was what drove her to get the vaccine.
Meanwhile, a 57-year-old government employee in Oriental Mindoro received a different brand, AstraZeneca. He had flu-like symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, and fatigue, but all were gone after two days. He stated, “Hinihikayat ko ‘yung iba na magpabakuna para kung tamaan man sila ng COVID, ‘di masyadong malala.”
Moreover, a 58-year-old overseas Filipino worker in Rome, Italy felt slightly more severe symptoms after acquiring the Pfizer vaccine. She had a hoarse voice, fever, and muscle pain which lasted for a day. According to her, it is highly encouraged for workers abroad to get vaccinated.
As of now, we are still sailing on the same ocean, but what makes this time different from the past year is our vision of its end. Every dose administered is an inch closer to the dock. Pilipinas, let us sail more and sail further.
Written by Charlyn Catapang
Photos by Dhann Añonuevo
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