The Era of Healing

 The Covid-19 pandemic has been severely challenging the Philippines and its economy in ways unexpected. The nation had been seeking for a relief from all the toxicity caused by the virus that was sinking into the very roots of the country’s soul, and has now finally been offered a light of hope in terms of the possibility of eliminating the virus with the potential help of different vaccines. Sinovac and Astrazeneca are two of the vaccines imported within Philippines by the legal permission and supervision of the nation’s president, Rodrigo Duterte. Sinovac, also known as CoronaVac, is an inactivated Covid19 vaccine developed by Sinovac Biotech, according to BBC. According to the Mint, another vaccine that has been created in hopes of it potentially defeating the virus is Astrazeneca, which had also been approved by the European Medicines Agency and the World Health Organization, based on a global clinic program involving 23, 000 participants. The people of the nation have finally been granted the privilege and the opportunity to get back onto track in terms of their physical well- being and national support system. There seems to be arisen an era of healing after a time period of tremendous hardships. However, is this legitimate? Or merely politically planned in context?

According to The Lancet, Astrazeneca shows potential of curing the very Covid-19 virus, and has been seen effective to an extent after various experiments. Science Media Centre stated that Sinovac, on the other hand, has reportedly been less effective compared to various other UK- licensed vaccines. However, in this intensive time of need, any help is good help. An era of healing has been invited by the nation’s very president for the betterment of the current state of the Philippines and its citizenry.

On March 1, the first batch of Covid-19 vaccines arrived in the Philippines which were Sinovac vaccines manufactured by Sinovac Biotech Ltd., a Chinese biopharmaceutical company. Understanding the initial compiled reports from The World Health Organization and Representative Companies stating that Sinovac has more or less a 50% efficacy rate, there had been low vaccine confidence among the Filipinos. “Let’s not wait for the best vaccine. There’s no such thing… The best vaccine is the one that’s safe and effective, and arrives early” says Carlito Galvez, who is leading the Philippines’ vaccine procurement efforts in a speech at the Philippine General Hospital.

On March 4, with a sigh of relief from many hopeful Filipinos, more than 480,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines arrived in the Philippines from the COVAX Facility.

"The long days and nights of waiting are finally over. These vaccines will be of great help to our valiant healthcare workers who have been at the forefront of the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. With every dose that we will administer, we are inching towards a safer recovery from this pandemic. So, let us put our trust in science, in vaccines. Together, we will rise as a nation and heal as one,” says Department of Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III.

As of March 13, vaccine doses have been rolled out to the majority of the Philippines’ regions and cities. From Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, both Sinovac and Astrazeneca vaccines have been administered to prioritized citizens. According to the Philippine vaccine czar and National Task Force Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez Jr., first priority would be frontline health workers in public and private

health facilities, temporary treatment and monitoring facilities, regional health offices, field workers, contract tracers, and barangay health stations. Also given the priority of receiving the vaccines are the “high-risk” areas across the country as stated by DOH Director Doctor Napoleon Arevalo. Focus areas included Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Davao City, Cebu City, Cagayan de Oro, Baguio City, Bacolod, Iloilo, Zambaonga City, Tacloban City, and General Santos City, among others.

The country has received a total of 1,125,600 vaccine doses thus far, according to Anadolu Agency’s recent report. The Covid19 pandemic has devastated the Philippines, sickening more than 576,000 people, including 12,318 deaths. President Duterte has vowed to ease some of the restrictions imposed in an effort to boost the Philippine economy once more vaccines are available. Can a promise such as what the President made be fulfilled with every other severe circumstances also happening during the pandemic? With many other countries’ borders closed, and with the Philippines still at high-risk with the Covid19 outbreak, many are not sure whether the economy may escalate any sooner. With mixed trust for vaccines across the whole country, and the prevalence of hardships throughout many sectors and institutions; patience, trust, discipline, and cleanliness must be practiced at all times as a way for all Filipinos to show strength and resilience during the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Amanjit Kaur, Isabella Pollentes.