For almost a year, people have only relied on the minimum health standards, lockdown, and quarantine in the absence of vaccine that could possibly create antibodies to fight Covid-19.
However, the lockdowns imposed since March 2020 in the country crippled the economy and affected the lives of many people. For this reason, the National Economic and Development Authority recommended the entire Philippines to be placed under the Modified General Community Quarantine to address hunger.
NEDA mentioned that a total of P1.04 trillion was lost due to quarantine restrictions since 2020.
Now Covid-19 vaccine is available and vaccine roll outs have been planned waiting to be executed. The major problem, however, is the reluctance of people to take the jabs for fear of side-effects.
To shed light on issues and doubts, Kalinga Provincial Health Officer Dr. Edward Tandingan answers people’s Frequently Asked Questions about the Covid-19 vaccine.
Why is vaccination important?
Dr. Tandingan stressed that Covid-19 like other viral diseases can be addressed through a vaccine. If there are antibodies created in the body of a person against the virus, the person will not get sick even if he encounters the virus. The virus will not create havoc in the body since the person is already immune to it.
“It took some time before nakita da wennu naala da met lang nu anya diay component ti virus nga diay nga isu iti mabalin nga agaramid iti bagi iti tao iti antibody, so daytoy diay spike protein nga kunana, isu diay iti pangpakapet idiay virus iti respiratory track kasla kuma iti pag-angsan wennu ditoy uneg iti diay lungs nga kuna tayo,” he said.
With the vaccine, he said, there will be no need for a person to be infected with Covid-19 before his body will produce antibodies against the virus.
“Kasla Tigdas… Because of the panagbakuna haanen nga ag-break out iti tigdas. Isu diay kuma iti mangyari ditoy Covid tapnu matuldukan na natin itong pandemic na ito,” he said.
When you get vaccinated, will you not get infected with the virus anymore?
Tandingan cited the vaccine for smallpox, saying the vaccine was the reason behind eradication of smallpox in the world.
As for Covid-19, it is yet too early to tell, but according to studies, evidence shows that the vaccines are effective. Only time can tell.
“Ebidensiya ket ipakita na nga epektibo daytoy a haan nga agsakit wennu haan nga makatransmit wennu haan unay nga severe diay sakit iti Covid nu nabakunaan,” he said.
What are the side effects?
Dr. Tandingan stressed that all medical products have potential side effects, but their usefulness outweigh the negative effects. Tandingan also added that all drugs undergo studies and that those with minimal side effects are the ones being approved for use.
The usual side effects of a drug or vaccine is inflammation on the area where they injected the vaccine, getting a fever and body pains. However, these can be managed by common medical interventions such as Paracetamol and pain reliever.
As for severe manifestation such as allergies, there are safe medicines to be used but the person should no longer be vaccinated for that particular vaccine if he is allergic to it.
Should you fear the Covid-19 vaccine?
Tandingan said that there is nothing to fear since the vaccines are certified by top scientists and they underwent assessments and trials. He added that many attempted to make a vaccine, however, they were trimmed down and the ones left are those with evidence showing that they are effective and safe.
People should get vaccinated
Tandingan is encouraging the people to get vaccinated once the vaccines are available, emphasizing that this is the hope and a huge step to end the pandemic.
“Tapnu mapasardeng tayo daytoy a pandemic tani kas ano ngay haan tayo makarwar, iti ekonomiya tayo ket bumagbagsak. So we really need to make a stop and the way we would do this is to have the vaccine. We cannot go on, we will not be able to put a stop and be economically productive as a country if we’re not going to be vaccinated,” he said.
In his appeal to the public, Dr. Tandingan advised that people should practice critical thinking when reading issues regarding Covid-19 vaccines and to verify their sources of information to avoid getting misinformed.
“There’s a lot of noise about Covid and Covid vaccination, isunga let us be careful with what we read, i-verify tayo diay source diay basbasaen tayo,” he said.
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