First dose done
I have been waiting for over a year, like most everyone, for a vaccine and since February to be inoculated with one. As soon as I was qualified, I jumped on the online registration page of my city, filled out the form, submitted it and hoped for the best.
As I awaited the much-coveted message for a Covid jab appointment, I kept updated on the different vaccines that have been given emergency use authorization across the globe. I kept abreast, too, with social media posts of friends from within the country who were posing for photographs or taking selfies with the Department of Health’s “Resbakuna Kasangga ng Bida” streamer in the background and an “I got vaccinated today” sign in the foreground. I have been wishing and praying it would be mine and my loved ones’ turn soon.
First it was my medical frontliner friends, seniors and then I started seeing posts of pals, acquaintances and colleagues my age receiving their first dose. Most of them, the first tranche of posts at least, were by Manila and Cebu-based friends. Soon after, some people I know from Cagayan de Oro City and surrounding areas in Region 10 were receiving their first Covid immunization dose. Most of them were inoculated with Sinovac.
Every photograph of someone vaccinated has kept me hopeful and optimistic. One immensely fine day some two weeks ago I received a message for an appointment for a vaccine shot. After all the waiting and wishing, you’d think I would have been absolutely ecstatic with the good news! Well, I had reason to be momentarily ambivalent about receiving the eagerly anticipated text at that particular time.
A day or two prior to my appointment message, I learned that the vaccination team was now using Oxford AstraZeneca. Don’t get me wrong, I admire AstraZeneca’s early decision that it would not profit from its vaccine while we are in pandemic times. I was impressed that they are willing to help solve the world’s problem and sell their product at cost. A laudable humanitarian service in my book! Even as the use of AstraZeneca in mass vaccination programs was briefly halted in a few countries due to rare incidences of blood clots, I was still reassured when experts decided to resume its roll-out because its benefits far outweigh the rare risk.
Right after I found out that our city vaccination team would be inoculating with Astra, I sought the latest news on advice for the under 50s, the age group my husband and I belong to. I was concerned that the first story that came up on an online search was one published back in March of a 49-year old female in Austria, who died due to blood clots days after she received an AstraZeneca jab.
Staring at the eagerly anticipated text message, I had to make a decision pronto! Do I await the arrival of a different vaccine and endure another delay for a first dose appointment or do I take this opportunity to receive my fervently prayed for first chance at giving my immune system some level of protection from this dreaded disease? I chose the latter option.
Two weeks on and I am relieved I made that decision.
There has, sadly, been a surge in cases in our city and region and mine and my family’s strict adherence to health protocols and that first vaccine dose I received is my little contribution to my community’s fight against Covid.
“Every photograph of someone vaccinated has kept me hopeful and optimistic.
“I admire AstraZeneca’s early decision that it would not profit from its vaccine while we are in pandemic times.