Bakuna. Bakuna. Bakuna.

Paulit-ulit natin itong naririnig magmula pa noong nakapag-develop na ng bakuna laban sa COVID-19. Since the pandemic started, the country has registered almost 4 million infections and more than 60,000 deaths. In a span of 2 years, mayroon na tayong 71.6million Filipinosvaccinated with the primary series. Ngunit mula sa numerong ito, 15 third dose o unang booster. Bakit nga ba?

June data shows that out of the 245,233,560 vaccines that the government procured, only 152,012,792 have been utilized. DOH admitted that around 27 million vaccines will expire this month. This includes the ones procured by the private sector, the local government, as well as donations.

Pinabili pa natin ang private sector pero pahirapan naman ang guidelines para magamit ang mga bakunang binili nila. We have more than 4 million doses of privately procured vaccines expiring. Gustong-gustong gamitin ng mga empleyado pero tila walang sense of urgency ang mga nagdedesisyon dito. Is this a matter of turf? Mas gusto ba nating illegal na nagpapabakuna ang mga tao?

Balikan po natin ang nakaraan. Parating pa lang ang Delta variant ay walang pagod po kaming nanawagan to immediately allow the third dose or first booster citing waning immunity and inadequate protection. Pahirapanang nangyari. Nagkaroon pa ng town hall meeting na hindi raw ito kailangan. Hinintay pang may mga mamatay sa Delta variant. Breakthrough infections were mushrooming right and left, with substantial numbers of moderate and severe cases. That was when the decision makers moved and allowed booster jabs. Vaccine-induced protection is not outright. It takes at least two weeks to 1 month. Now, we are in the same situation again. Many vaccines are expiring. Clamor to allow a second booster has been there for months. Pero tila, walang nakikinig. The new sub-omicron variants are hypercontagious, spreading likemeasles, with 1 patient infecting 18 others. Each of the 18 positive patients will have to infect 18 others. Imagine the multiplier effect. How do we fight? We increase our protection. No room for delay. We should have a sense of urgency. Been conveying this clamor more than a month ago, not only because we have approx 27-30M doses expiring at the end of the month, but moreimportantly because science has proven the benefit of two boosters among the 50yo and above and those with co-morbidities. What does not cause harm, should not be prohibited. Kailangan na ng karagdagan protection ng ating mga kababayan na araw araw ay sinusugal ang kanilang kaligtasan upang maitaguyod ang kanilangkabuhayan.

The Public Private Partnership in the procurement of vaccines was a flawed one and i have been vocal about it, considering the waste of money of MSMEs and LGUs. But they bought because the government allowed them to do so and messaging was not clear that clear delays will happen and prioritization of vaccinees is beyond their control.

Tila baluktot ang panawagan ng DOH na magpabakunaang mga tao pero heto naman ang nakatagong kamay natila paralisado ang buong bansa kung walang basbas ng pahintulot nila. Hanggang ngayon, limitado pa rin ang maaring makakuha ng pangalawang booster shot. Thereare a lot of unknowns re COVID and we are again seeing deaths and admissions. Though konti lang ito sa ngayon, hihintayin pa ba natin dumami? Babalik ba tayo dun sabaluktot na paniniwala, ubusin muna ang lahat ng senior citizens before we vaccinate those with co-morbidities? We have enough vaccines. Millions have already expired and are going to waste. For those wanting additional protection, why prevent them from such? Yung ayaw,huwag pilitin. Yung gusto, payagan. Mahirap ba yan?

Idagdag pa natin dito na sa ibang mga bansa ginagamitna ang Sinovac sa 3yo and above. May katotohanan kaya ang bulong-bulungan na matagal na itong may FDA approval ngunit hinaharang o ayaw ipaalam sa taongbayan? Sayang naman. Ano o sino ang kinatatakutan?Paano tayo magiging handa sa napipintong face to face classes sa Agosto kung kulang ang ating protection.

Until now, tahimik pa rin ang Officials in Authority saupdated definition ng Fully Immunized Person against COVID19. Transparency is key to people’s participation. Kung wala kang booster, you are undervaccinated. Therefore, you are not fully protected. The chance of being brought to the ICU or even dying is there.

Other countries have already shown the benefits of two booster doses. In fact, many countries have already started giving 2 booster doses to those 50 yo and above, health care workers and those with comorbidities. Bakit banatin ipagkakait ang dagdag na protection sa mga gusto atnangangailangan.

Salu-salungat ang mensahe: inuudyok ang mga taomagpabakuna pero pinipigilan naman ang dagdagbenepisyo at protection sa ating mga kababayan.

Huwag na sana magbingi-bingihan ang mga kinauukulan. Alam na natin ang kalaban, we have had 2 years of experience with this pandemic. Kailangan natin ng mas maagap na pagpaplano, malinis na execution at mabilisna implementation.