Faster than before

Most of my high school batchmates who ended up in the medical field showed off their pictures online. That iconic peace sign placed on the upper arm. They got vaccinated. It hit me, I was jealous of the fact that they are to some extent protected from the adverse effects of the virus. There is no word yet when the vaccination for the health workers will finish as there are thousands all over the country. We have to get in line before we get our own dose, and the mere waiting could kill me.

Well, I don’t mean that literally, though. I just feel like a long time waiting could make me ask, "What's taking so long?" My classmate in college who resigned from her job as a communication officer in one of the big hotels here in the city moved to Maldives to further her career. She also got vaccinated and I'm like just in awe. Why is this taking so long, again?

I probably cannot remember when was the last time I waited long for something. I am a fan of everything instant and all being auto. My patience has shrunk to a size of a pea; at least that’s the way I pictured it in my head. While waiting for the vaccine to arrive, I feel like the virus is spreading faster than before.

Once again Manila has been declaring to the public to follow all safety protocols because their hospitals are being overwhelmed; this is a scenario that played a couple of times in Cebu. We heard stories of how our loved ones did not make it because there wasn't enough staff or not enough rooms in the hospital. Today it is a different scenario, but I'd like to think that we are willing to relearn this process.

There are several mutations that are still under study and more known as "of concern". The only thing that concerns me now is how fast transmissions can happen which may either hit me or my family. Heck, I also run a small business and want to keep it going. If we are not fully aware of what may become of the virus, then I might run away with my money invested. That's just me, and there may be many others like me.

I guess what I'm really trying to say is that if there is any way, I wish the government would just speed it up. By speeding up, I mean making all transactions faster so we can get the vaccine the soonest possible time. While the presidential spokesperson has tagged Cebu as a place with people who have learned to live with the virus, we cannot let our guard down. Instead, we must be abreast and look forward to moving on without losing anyone in the process. Faster, I repeat. We need more efficient people to move faster.