Vaccine rollout

I came across an email today from the administration of the University of the Philippines Cebu. They asked me if I want to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The ‘yes’ box was ticked on my form but I was doubting how it would come along. Putting behind all my questions, I pressed ‘send’. I could have taken it back to place words on that unanswered question on what else I would want for the vaccination. I would have said to be given the freedom to choose a brand, one that showed more efficacy and efficiency as presented in recent news reports.

But then again, I felt like I had no voice to complain or even demand. While it may be my body, it isn't even my body. It is logical to say that the money for the vaccines to be bought for the second-liners such as educators and the like come from people's money, a.k.a. taxes, but when it reaches us, it seems like we don't have any right to question what was bought. Well, unless it was bought in a shady matter than there might be questions. However, free vaccine isn't something someone gets on a daily basis.

Yet these are just blurry thoughts from a survey which we don't know could become a reality. We are all patiently waiting for the vaccine to reach us, like a dog waiting for its food. Today we celebrate one year of the quarantine, one year when we were restricted from the life we used to have. I can still remember the drastic move to close all the borders and bidding goodbye to friends who couldn’t travel past quarantine checkpoints. Times were hard, I find it even harder now despite the move to loosen the protocols for some areas.

How I wish we would be vaccinated all at once. I understand there’s a hierarchy in priority, because life is just like that --we don't always get what we want. The only thing to lobby for here is for it to be fair to everyone, that they may get it as soon as important people do. Also, that we would also be given the chance to choose and at little to no cost at all. At the back of my head, it is still the government's responsibility to ensure the safety and welfare of its citizens.

I can't wait for the day when we all be proud to say that we got vaccinated and that there would be no more fears of infection. There would be no scares of going through the mandatory swab tests whenever we have to travel, and my friends who live in another island can be reached in a few hours. Those were the good times. I'm positive we can have it all back, soon.