By Alyssa Marie Luciano and Meldred Ivy Padilla
With around 143,036,759 doses of COVID-19 vaccines administered to Filipinos, the Philippines already reached a humongous rate of fully vaccinated individuals at 66,230,305 (73%) according to the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19.
Compared to last year’s data from the Department of Health (DOH) showing 98,966 fully vaccinated individuals, the data as of April 2022 show that those who already received their second dose increased by 400 times.
As the world celebrates World Health Day this April 7, it is best to raise awareness on the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines as the virus continues to affect the world, even recently causing resurgence of cases in many Asian and European countries.
Here are listed the listed benefits of vaccine that can help you and the community:
Helps the body develop immunity
The vaccine produces antibodies that help the immune system fight the COVID-19 virus. It will not give 100% protection, but it will lessen the chance of getting infected once being exposed.
Safe and effective
Recent studies show that vaccines against COVID-19 are safe and effective. Data gathered from different firms proved that people who were vaccinated experienced minor side effects which are considered normal.
Prevent symptomatic and severe infection
As these vaccines mimic the virus or bacteria which cause the disease, it triggers the body to create antibodies that will provide protection once a person gets infected with actual disease-causing virus or bacteria and prevents symptomatic and severe infections to develop.
Helps pregnant, unborn, and newborn babies
The antibodies that were created by vaccines reduce the chance of pregnant women being infected. Studies found that antibodies can be passed to unborn babies through the placenta which gives them immunity once born.
Prevents transmission
The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that there are some pieces of evidence that being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can prevent transmission. It means that having the shots will most likely help in protecting people around you by making the person less vulnerable from picking up the virus and passing it on to others. Even so, WHO reminds the public to still practice health protocols even if an individual is already vaccinated.
It’s free!
Being protected against the threat of COVID-19 will cost you nothing since the government provides free vaccines to their people. You do not need to pay for anything for you to be vaccinated with your first, second, or even your booster shots.
Prevent hospitalization and death from the disease
As COVID-19 emerged way back in 2020, several lives were lost due to the absence of a cure and vaccine that can prevent people from getting severe infection.
In 2021, international brands of COVID-19 vaccines were already being administered to people. The antibodies that vaccines create differ with their composition and how they trigger the immune response. These antibodies protect the body from microorganisms and serve as protection once a person gets infected with disease.
The COVID-19 vaccine brands recognized by the DOH to be administered to Filipinos are Pfizer-BioNTech, Oxford-AstraZeneca, CoronaVac (Sinovac), Gamaleya Sputnik V and Sputnik Light, Johnson and Johnson’s Janssen, Bharat BioTech, Moderna, and Sinopharm.– ag.
