A win-win on vaccines

Much has been said and written about the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yes, we’ve learned a lot since the virus first entered and then took over our lives. The health care system has learned how to more effectively treat those infected. And we know that simple things like wearing a mask and physical distancing quite effectively minimize the spread of the virus.

And the vaccines are here! Although still in very limited quantities here in our country, our “czar” in charge of dealing with COVID vaccines is promising ramped up vaccination soon – one million per week by next month, then two million a week, then up, up and away up to four million a week by July. The government has borrowed $1.2 billion to buy vaccines.

The czar and the powers that be should heed the plea of private sector business and industry groups to allow them to bring in vaccines for their members, workers, employees and their families…even as government focuses on vaccinating health care workers and indigent seniors and others in the priority list. This isn’t jumping the line or trying to grab the limelight; in fact, this will greatly help the government by getting more people vaccinated at the soonest possible time at no cost to government – bida pa din ang gobyerno! If these groups have their “connect” and can get vaccines delivered, isn’t that great? And since these are legit and established organizations they will not be smuggling or using fake vaccines. It’s win-win, right?

I’m keeping my eye on this because – full disclosure – I have signed up with two such groups to get vaccinated. As my doctor advised, I am no longer choosy about the brand. Since I have to go to work and go to the grocery (I now avoid the palengke) and other errands, I need to get a jab soonest. – Julie Sta. Cruz, Parañaque City