
MANILA, Philippines — Vaccination among senior citizens kicked off today (April 12) using China’s Sinovac vaccine CoronaVac.
In San Juan City, vaccine confidence among the elderly sector increased after they received COVID-19 jabs.
One of them, 69 years old Rodrigo Malig, was relieved to have passed the requirement and received the vaccine considering his lung condition.
“Hindi ako kinakabahan. Ang ikinakakaba ko nga baka hindi ako ngayon (maturukan ng) vaccine. Okay lang sa akin kahit anong mangyari wala namang problema iyon bastat importante sa akin magkaroon ako ng proteksyon sa sarili ko kasi mayroon na nga akong sakit,” he said.
His confidence in the vaccine increased especially that he did not have any severe conditions after the vaccination.
“Wala, parang inaantok. Okay lang to kasi syempre kagabi excited kaya hindi ako masyadong nakatulog kagabi,” he said.
“Huwag silang matakot, kailangan magpabakuna sila para proteksyon din sa katawan nila,” he added.
Aside from Rodrigo, Tess and Buddy Santos also received their COVID-19 jabs.
Tess said it is better to get vaccinated than be among the COVID-19 cases in the country.
She said it is inevitable for them to go out and interact with their house helpers who assist in their daily needs.
“Sabi ng asawa ko na 91 years old, sabi nya hindi na ako magpapabakuna kase matanda na ako. Sabi ko: “Magpabakuna ka because you will be a spreader.” Protection sa amin and sa tao na mai-encounter namin.” she said.
After the vaccination, the couple did not observe any adverse effects.
“May sakit, but natural. I will advise them to take it because your contracting COVID. Hindi serious. It will not cause death,” she noted.
Meanwhile, San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora stressed that they will not force any senior citizen to get vaccinated.
Once the supply of the AstraZeneca arrives, they can still get the vaccine.
“Mayroong may gusto, mayroong ayaw. Mayroong ayaw rin sa AstraZeneca kase ang gusto nila traditional method of vaccines,” Zamora noted.
“At any point they want to back out, pwede naman. Hindi naman natin sila pinipilit,” he added.
San Juan City has inoculated around 1,038 senior citizens using AstraZeneca while more than 100 received the Sinovac vaccine, as of today.
“Malalaman natin ngayon kung marami bang tatanggi o maraming tutuloy sa pagbabakuna. Give us a few days kung ano yung magiging acceptance level ng sinovac and here also to observe and to see kung ano magiging reaction ng ating senior citizens,” he concluded. –MNP (with reports from Janice Ingente)