"A good number of Filipinos still have to be convinced that getting the vaccine would be for the good of everybody."
Saturday’s substantial turnout of devotees to the Black Nazarene illustrates what could be claimed as faith—defying the dangers of a still-raging pandemic to be physically present in the annual feast.
Perhaps those faithful had complete confidence that their devotion to God is stronger than any risk of contracting the virus, or that the virus would not dare infect them while they are engaged in holy work.
The devotees have been advised by authorities to go on a 14-day quarantine should they start feeling any symptoms of COVID-19. Unfortunately, the symptoms might not show for a few more days even if they were infected among the crowd on Saturday. As we know, too, some of those infected could manifest no symptoms at all even if they could carry the virus and spread it to others.
All of them came home at the end of that day; many of them showed up for work again today. They took some form of transportation. Contact tracing is but a suggestion in this country. Who knows how the unseen enemy moved around during this event? It would take us many more days to find out.
Meanwhile, a survey by the Octa Research Group, conducted between December 9 and 13, revealed that nearly half of the 600 respondents cannot say if they would get themselves vaccinated or not, if the COVID-19 vaccine were available.
Twenty-five percent of respondents said they would be willing to be vaccinated, while an even greater number – 28 percent—said they would opt not to be vaccinated.
A similar survey by Pulse Asia released last Thursday revealed that 32 percent were willing to receive the vaccine, 47 would not get themselves vaccinated, while 21 percent remain undecided. The survey was conducted between Nov. 23 and Dec. 2.
These numbers are telling when many of us are pinning our hopes on a COVID-19 vaccine that would enable us to return to our previous way of life. It appears, however, that a good number of Filipinos still have to be convinced that getting the vaccine would be for the good of everybody. An overwhelming 84 percent of respondents to the Pulse Asia survey said they were concerned about the safety of the vaccines.
What fueled the uncertainty about the safety of the vaccines was not discussed. Perhaps there was lack of confidence in the manufacturers, or at least the country where the vaccines are manufactured. We can also only speculate how much of the lack of interest was caused by perceptions created by the Dengvaxia scandal concerning vaccines against dengue.
What is certain is that the people need to be informed that vaccines, so long as they follow standard guidelines and that their procurement and rollout are all aboveboard, exist for a reason, and that is to create immunity in the body of its recipient. The assumption is that scientific processes were followed to the letter, and that no shortcuts were taken. We can all take refuge in the security provided by science. This is what we need to tell our people as part of our (unfortunately, still-unarticulated) vaccination program.
We need faith, indeed, to beat this virus. Faith that we will be enlightened enough to trust facts and evidence, and not just be content to take the word of those who, themselves, are fallible.