June 8, 2021
By Michael John Lester Ruiz
FINALLY VACCINATED. Melanie Anselmo (left) and Apple Ghale Anselmo (right) flex their photos on social media after their initial vaccination on May 3. (Photo from Anselmo sisters/ Caption by Michael John Lester Ruiz)
For students in health and allied courses, getting vaccinated is more than prevention; it is also taking a part in achieving herd immunity in the country.
Such were the reasons why Melanie Anselmo, 23, and Apple Ghale Anselmo, 21 were more than willing to be inoculated last May 3.
The Anselmo sisters and other non-professionals, like students who are in the health and allied profession courses with clinical responsibilities, are part of the Priority Group A and are eligible for earlier vaccination.
Melanie is a second-year medical student at the University of the Northern Philippines in Ilocos Sur, while Apple is a second-year nursing student at St. Mary’s University, Nueva Vizcaya. They are both enrolled under the remote learning curriculum.
Lanie recalled how she was informed about the excess vaccines.
“Agrereview nak idi ajay nga time kasi madama midterm [examinations] mi idi ajay nga week,” Anselmo said in an interview.
(I was reviewing because that week is our midterm [examinations])
“Tapos nagmessage nii Nurse Gheenesa nu kayat ko kanu ti agpabakuna kasi adda excess,” she added.
(Then, I received a message from Nurse Gheenesa from RHU telling me if I want to be vaccinated.)
At first, Melanie was hesitant to accept the vaccine.
“Hesitant nak paylang kasi panpanunutek kit madi nak kasali kasi I am not working,” she explained.
(I was hesitant to accept [the offer] because I’m thinking I am not working yet.)
“But I asked If I am eligible, and she said: Yes,” she added.
Apple Ghale, however, was informed by her mother and was shocked because she thought that students, like her, are the least priority.
“Naisip ko nga noon magpabili ng vaccine kasi ang alam ko talaga least priority aang students to think na proposal ng school namin mag face-to-face na,” she said.
(I thought of buying a vaccine because I thought students are the least in priority and because our school is proposing to have our face-to-face classes.)
Adverse effects
Pain on the injection site, body pain, and mild headache are the side effects they felt after the vaccination. However, according to them, these are just minor side effects or reactions of the body to the vaccine.
The Anselmo sisters got the CoronaVac, an inactivated vaccine made from China’s Sinovac Biotech.
“Same side effects lang din naman sa mga nabakunahan na like mild headache tsaka pain on injection site,” Apple said.
(I experienced similar side effects like the people vaccinated before me: mild headache and pain on the injection site.)
“Pagkagising ko kasla ak nabanbannog, medyo masakit katawan ko,” Lanie said.
(When I woke up, I was feeling exhausted and my body ached.)
“Madi ak nagtake ti gamut or any adjunct as relieving factor. Wala na ako nafifeel ngayon [after two days],” she added.
(I did not take any medicine or any adjunct as a relieving factor. I no longer feel anything bad right now.)
Health experts have questioned the effectiveness of the Sinovac vaccine after it was reported to have an inconsistent efficacy rate from different countries. The vaccines administered in Turkey, for instance, showed an 83% efficacy rate and in Brazil, it was at 50.65% only, according to the Nikkei ASIA report.
“Some doctors sa amin prefer nila Sinovac, kasi traditional way na paggawa ng vaccine which is inactivated.”
(Some doctors in our school prefer Sinovac because it is the traditional way of making vaccines which are through inactivation.)
“Sinovac kasi wala naman na silang pagpipilian (chuckles). Mas magandang may proteksyon kesa wala.”
(SInovac because there is no other choice. It is much better to have protection than none at all.)
However, it is important to state your medical history truthfully upon the interview which includes vital signs check-up and present medical conditions (i.e., menstruation, cough, fever, allergies, organ transplants, etc.)
According to Lanie, the person who received the vaccine is advised to wait for 30 minutes to observe possible allergic reactions. If there are reactions, which are rare, medical personnel are ready to treat the symptoms.
On prevention and herd immunity
Despite the slow vaccination rollout of the government, the Lanie is still hoping to achieve “herd immunity” in the country.
Herd immunity, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), “is the indirect protection from an infectious disease that happens when a population is immune either through vaccination or immunity developed through previous infection.”
“Gusto ko talagang magpa-vaccinate para maabot agad ‘yong herd immunity ng Philippines. [It] means no face masks nukan,” she explained.
(I really wanted to be vaccinated in order to achieve herd immunity in the Philippines. It means we would not need to wear face masks.)
According to her, 70% of the population needs to get the vaccination to achieve it.
“Isu maging part sana tayong lahat [sa solusyon] and manghikayat na magpabakuna regardless of the manufacturer,” she added in a mix of Filipino and English.”
(That’s why let us be part of the solution and encourage everyone to vaccinate regardless of the manufacturer.)
Meanwhile, Apple earnestly explained how vaccines can help prevent severe symptoms caused by the virus.
“So, vaccines talaga are really important, aside from it prevents you getting that disease it also prevents the cross contamination or yung lalo pag pagspread ng disease,” she explained.
(So, vaccines are really important, aside from it prevents you from getting that disease, it also prevents cross-contamination or that severe spread of the disease from one person to another.)
“In other words, getting vaccinated is not a selfish act just to save yourself, kundi parang show of care mo narin yon sa ibang tao,” she added.
(In other words, getting vaccinated is not a selfish act just to save yourself but it also shows your care for other people.)
For the Anselmo sisters, lack of information about the vaccine restricts them from being vaccinated.
“[Kailangan ng] intentional small talk sa mga tao para machange yung view nila sa vaccine. Kasi, I think, yung iba kulang lang sila sa information kaya takot magpabakuna.”
(We need to do an intentional talk to people to change their views about the vaccine. I think some people are lacking information, that’s why they are afraid.)
Their next anticipated second dose of the vaccine is 28-32 days after inoculation. SYNC IN
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