Pabakuna or not?

Filipinos have to be convinced to agree to be vaccinated or not and with what vaccine. Several surveys have confirmed the low percentage of our people willing to be vaccinated. Filipinos also seem to prefer to be vaccinated with the vaccine of their choice.

Research and actual statistics in various countries of the world validate the efficacy of vaccinations to contain COVID. Check out the US, Brazil and Indonesia, to cite some.

Widespread vaccination has allowed the easing of health protocols in several American cities. Public activities are “normalizing.” More feel safer, freer to move and venture out beyond their homes.

Vaccination will work if a significant percentage of the total population is vaccinated. Otherwise, without the required numbers of vaccinated, herd immunity will not be attained.

Hence, it is very important to inform and persuade our people about the urgency and necessity of being vaccinated. But how to convince most Filipinos beyond their vaccine resistance and hesitancy?

It will help to understand why Filipinos do not like or hesitate to be vaccinated.

Many interviewed by media cite fear as a common answer. Many are afraid the vaccines, rather than save their lives, will harm, even kill them. They cite media report of deaths among those vaccinated, among seniors, among even the young -so no way, they will have themselves vaccinated!

So far, the public say, they have stayed safe and alive, just by following health protocols. They just have to continue doing so rather than risk losing their lives to a vaccine they do not trust.

Or should they agree, many want to choose which vaccine to be jabbed with. The recent large influx of people when Pfizer was made available shows that vaccine confidence is a factor considered by Filipinos in their decision to be vaccinated or not.

News reports that those vaccinated may not be able to receive their required 2 doses because of the possible shortage of vaccine supply is also adding to vaccination hesitancy.

National and local government units need to search further for other possible reasons why Filipinos do not like or hesitate to be vaccinated so they can be guided about how to overcome these hurdles so more will agree to be vaccinated, so herd immunity can be achieved soonest for the protection of all.

Intensive, widespread public education is an important step that should have been done yesterday, months ago. Convincing, popularized version of scientific, reliable information that vaccines are safe should reach Filipinos all over the country. Aside from content, this public information campaign needs to be done through persuasive means or authority.

Some government, church, media and entertainment personalities publicly showed their being vaccinated with the hope to convince the public to follow. The number persuaded, however, are still insignificant compared to those who are undecided, hesitant or those who have decided not to be vaccinated!     

Grassroots networking, having civil society organizations, CSOs, NGOs as well as business and industry involvement are now being tapped to persuade more to be vaccinated.

Material incentives and rewards are even being considered or actually now being offered to those who will decide to be vaccinated soon.

Will a significant percentage of our people be persuaded to say yes to bakuna and any type of available bakuna, within the next few months?

Will those who have been vaccinated be safe and well after some months or years? Many of those already vaccinated are themselves unsure about what will happen to them, in the short and long term, after vaccination.

For now, most Filipinos would prefer to wait and see instead. Nothing to lose, anyway, if they wait and not hurry, they reckon. Have not millions survived thus far without vaccination?