Elderly couple emotional after getting jabs at Parañaque mall

An elderly couple couldn’t help but shed tears of joy on Wednesday after they received their first AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine dose in a mall in Parañaque City.

According to Marisol Abdurahman’s report on “24 Oras,” 77-year-old Serafin Valenzuela and his 73-year-old wife Cecilia had been waiting a long time to receive the vaccine.

“Salamat, inuna kaming mga senior citizen,” Valenzuela said.

(I’m grateful that we seniors were prioritized.)

The couple said they endured the hot weather to get the vaccine as they kept in mind the advice their child, a nurse overseas, gave them.

“Kung merong pagkakataon, anytime, grab it,” he said.

(If there’s a chance, anytime, grab it.)

According to a Parañaque City Health Officer, fewer individuals went to get inoculated on Wednesday compared to the day when Pfizer jabs were being administered.

“Meron kaming mga vaccines na choice talaga ng tao… Sayang nga kasi ‘yung mahal nating presidente, ang sabi niya ‘wag na sana pumili ng bakuna,” Dr. Olga Virtucio said.

(We have vaccines that others prefer… It’s really a waste since our president already told the public to refrain from being choosy.)

“Unfortunately, I guess, talagang ang ating mga kababayan, ano talaga sila, pumipili din talaga sila,” she added.

(Unfortunately, I guess, our compatriots want to choose.)

The local government said 20,000 out of 70,000 senior citizens have received COVID-19 vaccines.

“Parating pa lang ‘yung ating mga vaccine, eh. Kasi wala pa ho tayong sufficient vaccine pa ngayon,” Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivares said.

(The vaccines are still on their way. We don’t have a sufficient supply as of right now.)

The Parañaque City Health Office also appealed to the public to refrain from being choosy with their vaccines. — Joahna Lei Casilao/BM, GMA News