What it takes to beat an invisible enemy

After months of quarantine, Filipino citizens are finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel as the Philippine government rolls out its vaccination plan. Humanity is no stranger to epidemics and, by extension, mass vaccination. Much of the late 20th century was spent eradicating polio worldwide, and it was only in August 2020 that Africa declared itself polio-free (WHO, 2020).

The eradication of COVID-19 in the Philippines is just getting started, and it’s a feat that will not be easy to achieve.

Choosing the vaccine

The question on everyone’s minds is what vaccine will be distributed? Currently, the government is in talks with seven pharmaceutical companies, coming from the U.S., China, Russia, South Korea, and more. Most of them have become familiar names, such as Pfizer.

Perhaps the most pressing concern is which among these vaccines will provide the best protection against COVID-19. When it comes to their effectiveness, it is Pfizer that leads the charge, coming in at 95% (Zimmer, 2020). However, this number comes from clinical trials and, thus, doesn’t tell us much about its real-world performance. Regardless, it's an optimistic value, one that gives us hope.

There are also factors that determine whether a vaccine is suitable for mass production and distribution. In terms of affordability, AstraZeneca is the cheapest at Php610 (Inquirer, 2020). The type of vaccine must also be considered. Pfizer is effective, but its mechanism is genetic, a relatively new kind of vaccine, and thus has only been limited to clinical trials and emergency use (WHO, 2021).

There is no one vaccine that will solve all of our problems, and it’s because of this that efficient programs are all the more important.

Vaccines don't save lives, programs do

Mass vaccination is when multiple people in a certain area are vaccinated during a short amount of time (Heymann & Aylward, 2006). The aim of mass vaccination is to protect as many people as possible from COVID-19, potentially leading to “herd immunity”. As more people are vaccinated, it becomes harder for the virus to spread, lessening the chances of even unvaccinated ones from catching it (Heymann & Aylward, 2006).

Mass vaccination campaigns target the most vulnerable groups, such as health workers and senior citizens. Once these groups have been vaccinated, routine campaigns are made to ensure that everyone who might become susceptible will have the same protection. This is why we have flu and polio vaccines for children.

The Filipino government will be taking a similar approach in its vaccine rollout. Frontline workers and people with vulnerable health will be the first to get their vaccines. Next are other essential workers in the education and government sectors. Steps are currently being taken by LGUs to categorize the population into the appropriate priority groups.

The eradication of fear

We have our vaccines and our plans, so, theoretically, everything is in place. From here on out, it’s smooth sailing until COVID-19 is largely eradicated. The end of the pandemic is near, and victory over the invisible enemy that has haunted nations is close.

Unfortunately, there’s another adversary right at our doorsteps.

In a 2021 survey done by Pulse Asia, nearly half of Filipinos refuse to get vaccinated. Less than a third of the surveyed adults said they would, with the remaining saying they are undecided. 84% of those who turned down the vaccine cited the same concern: they’re scared that the vaccines aren’t safe enough.

The eradication of COVID-19 in the Philippines is no easy feat. But, the eradication of fear has been long overdue, and it will take far more effort to completely erase.

Misinformation and fake news have been an ongoing problem in our country, and they’ve become even more fatal in the face of the virus (CNN, 2020). But, underneath all that is a lacking education system and science communication, one that has left the masses in the dark. This is further compounded by the leadership of our country, or rather, the lack of. Controversies like Dengvaxia and the unauthorized vaccination of President Rodrigo Duterte’s security group further sour this trust (Ranada, 2021; CNN, 2017).

Mass vaccination is possible, but its success is contingent on the trust people have in our leaders and the overall strength of science communication. Countless press conferences are not enough, active efforts must be made by our government to make sure the information reaches people in ways that matter. Making more information available and increasing transparency behind the decisions our leaders make is also instrumental in beating our invisible enemies.