Some elderly Pinoys wary over COVID-19 vaccine after Norway deaths

Some elderly Filipinos on Monday said they were wary about receiving a vaccine against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) after seniors in Norway who were inoculated with the Pfizer-BioNTech jab died.

“‘Di ako papayag magpabakuna dahil marami akong sakit. Baka mamatay pa ‘ko,” Magdalena Morillo said in a “24 Oras” report by Mariz Umali.

“Parang ayaw ko pang mamatay, bata pa ‘ko. Sabagay, 86 na ako. Pero nakakatakot kasi kapag naiturok na ‘yun, hindi na puwedeng ulitin. Hindi na mababawi,” another senior citizen, Janculan Nicolas, said.

Norway earlier reported that the deaths of 23 seniors were “associated” with COVID-19 vaccination. 

Health officials said the deaths appeared to be linked to the side effects of the vaccine. The Norwegian Medicines Agency also said it was possible that it was just a coincidence.

The agency stressed that such incidents are rare and only affect people who are extremely frail or have a severe illness.

Senior citizens’ rights advocate Romulo Macalintal said he was alarmed by the news but was still willing to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

“Unang una, dapat ding makita natin kung talagang ‘yun nga ang dahilan,” he said.

“Basta’t sinertipikahan na talagang ang isang bakuna ay puwede nang magamit dito sa ating bansa ay hindi naman ako nag-aalala na magpabakuna. Marami na rin akong nakausap na mga senior citizens… handa silang magpabakuna. Sabi nga no’ng iba naman, ang iba pag-aaralan pa nila,” he added.

Dr. Lulu Bravo, executive director of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination, urged the public not to be quick to pass judgment on COVID-19 vaccines.

“Maraming edad na 60 pataas. Sabi nga natin, vulnerable sila sa iba’t ibang klase ng sakit… na posibleng mangyari with or without vaccines,” she said.

“So ‘yun ang dapat imbestigahan, kung talagang may relasyon ‘yan sa bakuna. Kasi kung wala naman, bakit mo naman i-be-blame ‘yung bakuna? Importante lang na makinig tayo sa mga experts.”—Julia Mari Ornedo/LDF, GMA News