Benefits of Covid jabs far outweigh the risks
WE find it both mind-boggling and tragic that some people remain hesitant to get Covid-19 vaccine these days. Just about every concern raised should already be allayed by health experts. Many of them may be frustrated about having to repeat their reassurances again and again. This is no small matter given the stubborn disbelief about the safety and efficacy of vaccines threatens to prolong the pandemic and make the economic impact worse.
First, the issue about brand preferences seems misplaced. As experts said, the best vaccine is the one available.
This was an issue before when various vaccines were in development. Different clinical trials were reporting efficacy rates, and brands with higher numbers became early favorites. Others, particularly Sinovac, were frowned upon simply because they reported lower figures.
Now that few vaccines have been rolled out, what matters is its performance. More than 870 million people worldwide received at least a shot.
Some complain Filipinos are left with few options, with most of limited supply Sinovac. Granted, the government should have anticipated the supply-chain issues; just like what Singapore and Serbia did. But that is another issue.
Concerns over Sinovac’s lower efficacy rate during clinical trials should be irrelevant by now. Those harboring fears might find comfort in the fact tens of millions of Sinovac doses have been distributed to several countries, at least 25 as of March
2021, according to the Los
Angeles Times, which cited the Associated Press.
So far, Sinovac’s performance seems to be as good as any other brand of Covid-19 vaccine. Any lingering doubt can perhaps be associated with bias. With
China expected to produce
2.6 billion doses this year, it is likely more people will receive Sinovac instead of those made by Pfizer, Moderna and others.
Insignificant
The real threat is Covid-19, which has so far killed more than 3 million worldwide and has economies sliding in most countries. As for the vaccines, the benefits far outweigh the risks.
Another reason for the lingering fears may be attributed to side effects experienced by some who received jabs, particularly AstraZeneca and, recently, Johnson & Johnson. What people should note is those incidents are extremely rare and only a handful in millions of cases.
Even if the probability of blood clotting or some other adverse effect is far less than 1 percent, some people think they could be exceptions. This kind of mindset probably explains why people keep buying lottery tickets even after failing to win time and again.
Still, others are alarmed by reports of people contracting the coronavirus disease a second time or even after inoculation. Again, these “breakthrough” cases are not just odd. They are extremely rare.
The truth is, our understanding of Covid-19 is still evolving. The virus itself is still mutating. We know some of the newer variants are more transmissible and deadly. That is precisely why people should get their shots as quickly as possible: to contain the spread before more mutations happen.
Moreover, people should not be put off by the possibility of having another round of booster shot, elucidated last year by epidemiologists, including American doctor Anthony Fauci. Other experts also say people might need annual coronavirus jabs just like the influenza vaccine.
Fortunately, Covid-19 is not as controversial or political in the Philippines as it is elsewhere. We should stamp out misinformation about this pandemic whenever and wherever it may be budding.
The real problem in the Philippines — and to be fair, in many other countries — is limited supply. Only three million doses of Sinovac and AstraZeneca have arrived so far. The first batch of Moderna shots may not get here until June, and delivery of Russia’s Sputnik V may be less than what was ordered. These delays also bolster the argument for taking whatever is available.
The real threat is Covid-19, which has, so far, killed more than 3 million worldwide and has economies sliding in most countries. As for the Covid-19 vaccines, their benefits far outweigh the risks.