Paving the way forward safely

This weekend was a milestone one for us all. After two years of living with COVID-19 and varying degrees of quarantine, this weekend, children of all ages and senior citizens were allowed out of their homes once more, as long as they were accompanied by a fully vaccinated adult. The news was met with both hesitation and joy. Many parents were worried, but many more rejoiced at the thought of taking the kids out again for the first time in years.

And take them out they did. While many people opted to stay home, many more masked up the kids and took them back to the malls, churches, playgrounds, and more. And while the children and parents were happy to have even just a taste of normalcy, it’s also admittedly scary to see so many people in crowded places.

The mall, in particular, was a scene from 2019. Other than masks, it would be impossible to tell that it was 2021. The volume of people out was significant. While some may have tried to maintain some form of social distancing, it was impossible for many because there were just too many people and not enough space.

Online, netizens had mixed reviews. While the drop in cases has been inspiring, some feel that – once again – we are rushing back out without a solid path forward. But then again, that seems to be the pandemic playbook for the Philippines. We stay in diligently when numbers increase, and then rush back outside when they go down. It’s been the case at least three times these past two years, and the outcome has always been the same.

At this point, we need to ask ourselves if there is perhaps another way forward? We can’t begrudge anyone excited to take their children out of the house for the first time in years. But at the same time, we can’t be too flippant about being in crowds again. While safety protocols are in place, there are still many who don’t follow them. And it’s that much more complicated when parents can’t make their kids follow such protocols outside of the home.

A friend and pediatrician from PGH sent a message to friends and family urging everyone to remain careful and vigilant, and to stay at home as much as possible. It’s wonderful that we see a decline in cases, but, quite frankly, our healthcare workers are exhausted and afraid. After having hospitals overflowing these past several months again, they are wary of seeing numbers balloon anew if people don’t exercise enough caution.

This is especially true for children who had a sharp increase in cases when Delta came out and proved to be more transmissible to children than the original COVID-19 strain. While it’s nice to take the kids out for the first time in what must feel like forever, let’s also be mindful that no mall trip is worth children getting sick or potentially ending up in the hospital.

We need to remain cautious and carve out a new path forward. One that doesn’t just rely on seesawing numbers and quarantines, but is also based on a carefully researched and carefully implemented plan.

Vaccines have most certainly helped get us to where we are today. As our numbers of vaccination increase, we need to double down on vaccination efforts and get even more people vaccinated. Logistics need to be given importance, and vaccines have to de deployed quickly and efficiently to ensure we don’t waste them.

Now, with boosters and pediatric rollouts happening, we have to invest in ensuring this wave of vaccinations is faster. After all, for boosters, all of the initial patient information has already been recorded. It’s simply a matter of pulling out old files and updating them. We should no longer be caught unaware here, as this is not new territory.

For kids, hopefully, the rollout is smooth as well. The 12-teenager age group is getting their first doses, and if rumors are too believed, we will also be rolling out vaccines for the five to 11 age group before the end of the year. In the United States, they have already begun this age bracket and hopefully, we can safely and smoothly follow suit.

At this point, vaccination is one of the most important steps towards moving into a new and safer normal. But we still have to couple this with strict safety measures. While it’s nice to be outside, let’s do our part and remain home as much as possible for our safety and the safety of those around us.

If we need to go out, let’s not forget all of the essential safety protocols to keep us safe. Always wear a good reliable mask or double mask if using a cloth mask. Use a face shield, practice regular hand washing, and use alcohol. And avoid the three C’s as much as possible – “Crowded places with too many people, Closed spaces with poor ventilation, and Close-contact settings.”

While things are improving, that doesn’t mean they can’t get bad again. Let’s do our part and stay safe so we can all have a better holiday ahead.