Filipinos continue to resist vaccinations or booster shots

 by Zarah Mae B. Negado 

The Department of Health (DOH) has observed an increased number of COVID-19 cases on Friday, April 28 it recorded a total of 858 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of active cases to 5,293. According to the most recent data, new infections increased with an active tally to 5,293 from 4,960 on Thursday.

On March 18, the Department of Health (DOH) announced that the second COVID-19 booster is now accessible for seniors and frontline health workers 18 years and older. They can now get a second booster dose, especially with mRNA vaccines such as MODERNA and Pfizer. The department announced that receiving a second booster shot will increase their immunity against the COVID-19 virus, including the most recent COVID-19 subvariant, Omicron BA.2.12.1 and according to the most recent government data, more than 78.4 million Filipinos have been properly vaccinated against COVID-19. Over 23.8 million people have received their first booster dose, with nearly 4.4 million receiving their second. According to a survey conducted by the polling firm Social Weather Stations in December 2022, 69% of the estimated 9.5 million adult Filipinos who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 continue to refuse vaccination. While the Philippines' vaccination coverage reached 94.62% of the target eligible population, booster uptake among those who had already been vaccinated remained low; clearly, there is a slow acceptance of getting a booster shot in our country.

It is because Filipinos continue to resist vaccinations or booster shots and there are several underlying reasons why. According to the World Bank's survey and study, vaccination hesitancy appears to be relatively prevalent in the Philippines. Vaccine hesitancy—the unwillingness, rejection, or postponement of vaccination—is caused by a variety of factors, including fear of side effects, doubts about vaccine effectiveness, the sense that immunization causes inconvenience, and complacency. It also revealed that lack of information about vaccines, misinformation about their efficacy or side effects, mistrust, and underestimation of benefits versus overestimation of risks and costs of vaccination are some of the reasons why many Filipinos refuse to be vaccinated or receive booster shots.

But we should and must have booster aids for the maintenance of good protection against severe coronavirus illness. A second booster does not imply that the previous one is any less effective or protective. Efforts to prevent serious cases and deaths would be strengthened with the help of second booster doses. A second booster dose prepares our bodies' immune systems to resist the severe COVID-19 virus. The DOH is doing several initiatives to educate and encourage people to get vaccinated and receive their booster shots, emphasizing the health, personal, and social benefits of doing so.

As more individuals in our country receive vaccinations and booster doses, we hope to gradually return to a normal life. Some people are looking forward to family reunions, celebrations, or simply being able to get together with their loved ones. We can also have extra protection by having a booster shot; we will not only safeguard ourselves, but also our family, loved ones, and the community. We've made a lot of sacrifices and changed so many aspects of our lives in the past years. We wore masks. We stopped shaking hands and kissing strangers, and now we're being told we need booster shots to protect ourselves and our communities. So that we can all live as we used to.

Sources from (2022, November 22). Booster Shots and Additional Doses for COVID-19 Vaccines — What You Need to Know. Johns Hopkins Medicine Home. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/booster-shots-and-third-doses-for-covid19-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know 

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