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During the first quarter of 2021, the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines began in the country to protect the entire nation against the highly contagious disease, the coronavirus disease 2019.

The vaccine products that are available in the Philippines are Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Moderna.

There was vaccine hesitancy from Filipinos at first because of some reports linking COVID-19 vaccines to serious and even fatal side effects.

According to Dr. Cornelio “Lennon” Vasquez, internal medicine specialist, some people were initially hesitant about the COVID-19 vaccine during the first quarter of the year because it was a newly invented medication.

“Sa tingin ko ay dahil sa bagong bakuna lamang ito na tingin ng iba ay minadali at may mga alinlangan din sa kaligtasan nito dahil na din sa kontrobersya ng mga nakaraang bakuna tulad ng sa dengue vaccine,” he said

He continued “Ang iba naman ay may mga naririnig sa kanilang mga kakilala o kapitbahay na mga kuwento na dulot daw ng bakuna na walang maliwanag na ebidensya.”

However, to this day, there are still people who are hesitant to receive the vaccine, especially those who have heard negative things about it.

“Meron pa rin mga natatakot especially mga taong maraming naririnig na hindi maganda tungkol sa COVID vaccine at mga hindi siguro nakaranas o may kakilala na nagkaroon ng COVID at kung gaano ito nakakatakot,” he said.

Dr. Vasquez added, “Sa mga ganitong pagkakataon ay mas magandang mag invest ang gobyerno sa mga information campaign sa mainstream media kung saan makikita ng mga tao at maiintindihan na ligtas at makapag protekta ito.”

A SIGH OF RELIEF

Alexandra Dimayuga received her first dose of the Sinovac vaccine last March 25. She belongs to the A1 priority group as she works as a dental assistant in her family's clinic.

“I experienced soreness throughout my body. One time, I stood up then I suddenly fell because my legs were sore. Other than that, nothing so drastic,” she said.

She received her second dose of the vaccine on April 22 and didn't experience any side effects afterward.

Alexandra was one of the many individuals who have misgivings about the COVID-19 vaccine.

“With the speed of coming up with a vaccine against the virus, it feels scary to think that this was more of a competition for speed rather than a competition of efficiency and effectivity,” she said.

What made her realize to get vaccinated was her father's health.

“My father had cancer kasi, so he's immunocompromised. Thinking about others like him, a step toward herd immunity would really help,” she said.

“Being fully vaccinated gives you assurance that your body is prepared for the virus, it can combat it - knowing that is such a relief. COVID-19 is scary, and I'm just thankful for the companies who gave us an armor to fight with,” she added.

On the other hand, Niño Sacdalan, a medical technologist, received his first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine last March 26 and experienced some side effects.

Niño Sacdalan receives his second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

“I've got my vaccine around 2 p.m. After [a] few hours, everything [was] normal except on the injection site. May konting heaviness then around 2 a.m. the following day, my temperature started to rise. I experienced fever the whole day and on the 28th, everything was back to normal,” he said.

Last June 17, Niño received his second jab of the vaccine and like Alexandra, he didn't experience any side effects.

He also shared that he wasn't hesitant about getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

“I actually encourage people that I talked to get vaccinated. As a person in the medical field, I believe that it's also our duty to enlighten people about the efficiency of vaccines,” he said.

Now that he's fully vaccinated, Niño feels secure and protected because he encounters many people every day.

Amelia Arinzana, a retired government employee, got her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine last May 18.

“I didn't experience any side effect except na medyo mapahdi 'yung pinagturukan,” she said.

Amelia received her second dose of the Pfizer vaccine last June 8 and didn't experience any side effects.

In early 2021, she was hesitant about the COVID-19 vaccine due to limited studies and what she read on the news.

“There were limited studies at mahaba dapat pag-aralan ng mga experts for the efficacy of the vaccine. And what I've read on the news about the dying senior citizen being vaccinated and blood clotting, and thinking about my situation, as a senior citizen with hypertension, is scary,” she shared.

Amelia realized that she needed to get the vaccine when the cases of COVID-19 in the country rose and hospitals became overwhelmed.

“Also, naniniwala ako, according to the experts if you have the vaccine and you got infected, hindi magiging critical ang lagay mo. Eh ang mahal din kasi ng gamutan ng COVID,” she shared.

Today, Amelia feels protected and can now go anywhere with confidence knowing that she has protection against the virus.

PROTECT YOURSELF

According to Dr. Vasquez, the COVID-19 vaccine helps prevent the peril caused by the virus.

“Ang pagkakaroon ng proteksyon sa COVID-19 ay maiwasan ang mga perwisyong dulot nito tulad ng pagliban sa trabaho (o walang kita) ng hindi bababa sa 14 na araw, pag gastos ng malaki sa pagpapa-ospital, at higit sa lahat ay sobrang pag aalala hindi lang sa sarili natin kung hindi pati ng mga mahal natin sa buhay”.

He also advised that the COVID-19 vaccines are made using modern technology and are safe regardless of brand.

“Marami ng mga tao ang nabakunahan na ng COVID-19 vaccine at ito ay ligtas. Ang mga bakuna ngayon ay ginamitan na ng makabagong teknolohiya sa ating makabagong panahon at lahat ng bakuna sa Pilipinas ay dumaan sa masusing pag aaral ng mga vaccine expert ng ating bansa,” he said.

“Lahat ng bakuna, ano man ang brand nito, ay epektibo at mabisa. Isa ito sa mga pwede natin gawin para sa sarili natin.”

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As part of the A4 category, celebrities are also receiving COVID-19 vaccine jabs. Using their influence, they are encouraging people to get inoculated. See the personalities who have received their vaccine shots: