While many local government units are already signifying their intent to buy doses of vaccines against the deadly virus, ours remain to be mum. Though not outright, there is no clear direction declared publicly how Cebu City’s vaccination will go. The mayor has been adept in his continuous meetings with the vaccine czar, but I feel like it is going nowhere. If it does head to a road, maybe it is unsure.
The whole vaccine issue is a big thing to talk about because of the desperation to move on to be at the new normal. Add to that the many effects others are feeling after getting a dose. Even the health department admitted to this, that the vaccine indeed isn’t a hundred percent effective. If that is the case then we are doomed.
Freedom to choose the kind of vaccine should also be put into consideration especially to those who can afford. But the bigger issue now is fear of being vaccinated. With the new strain proven to be here in the Philippines, I’m afraid that we have to double our efforts. Even doctors in the private sector are getting scared by the minute that a repeat might happen again. They don’t want to have overwhelmed hospitals and people dying because they just can’t take it.
Vaccines should be put into consideration and explained well. Misconceptions are already being spread that the vaccine could wear you out, or give you wrinkles, or worse, kill you. We can wait and observe other countries as they administer the vaccine. On a personal note, I too am scared to go get a vaccine as it we don’t know what it can do. It could be a Dengvaxia part two.
And we are all done with that. It is either we trust the manufacturers of the vaccines or rely on our instinct to adhere to all the protocols, but then again we could be missing out on more.
My only hopes are that the government, most especially that of Cebu City, would be more aggressive when it comes to acquiring the vaccine rather than debate on the Sinulog and other historical activities. We understand that it is an important matter too, but our health also comes first. Priorities must be put in place and the issue of being it a tripartite agreement should not ever delay the process.
Do I feel scared? Yes I do, because there is so much uncertainty of what is to come. I want to have a secure future, a COVID-free family. I doubt we can attain that now.