Let the numbers speak
As we experience a surge in COVID-19 cases, statistical data shows that vaccines effectively protect individuals and communities. For the doubting Thomas, may the recent Philippine experience suffice to satisfy your misgiving.
The Philippine General Hospital, a COVID referral hospital, recently recorded 100 breakthrough infections, but most have only mild symptoms. Of the 108 adults admitted for the disease in the said hospital, 86.2 were unvaccinated, 11 percent had received their first dose, and only 2.8 percent were fully vaccinated. The fully vaccinated had only mild to moderate symptoms, while the severe and critical cases came from the unvaccinated group. Health workers attest that vaccines work in protecting against severe infection and death even with the spread of the more virulent Delta variant.
The data offers a ray of hope for us to regain our normal lives. Lockdowns are not a feasible long-term solution to the problem. We have seen how lockdowns extensively damaged our economy and deprived many Filipinos of their livelihood.
The World Health Organization and many scientists believe that the virus is here to stay with us and that we must live with it. As we acquire more tools in protecting us from the infection and in mitigating its effects when infected, we will soon come to terms with the virus.
For now, the best that we can do is to heed the advice of professional experts on matters about the pandemic and not just to believe in any garbage information found on the internet and other media platforms.
It is time for those who still cling to the idea that the pandemic is a conspiracy among governments, scientists, business people, and the media. No government will ever think of inflicting harm to the people it is sworn to protect.