Should the COVID-19 vaccine be required to all Filipinos? The Philippines is one of the countries that have been under lockdown the longest. Since March of 2020 and up to now, there are still lockdowns in different parts of the country. However, it became less strict ever since the start of vaccination against the virus. According to a research, only 57.6% of the Filipino population is fully vaccinated and this explains why we are still in lockdown. If we really want to get back to our normal lives and the lockdowns to be lifted, every Filipino must be required to get vaccinated. First, schools and universities have been closed for almost 2 years now. They adjusted to modular learning and some are through online classes. After those years, surveys show that students are having a hard time to learn and teachers find it difficult to teach properly. Requiring vaccinations can help the students and teachers to go back to school safely, which is why it should be done. It is for the benefit of every child’s future so everyone must be vaccinated as early as possible. Most businesses went bankrupt and some Filipinos lost their jobs because of the health crisis. This is the second reason why vaccination is important. Our country is still a third world country and earning money is very difficult for everyone. Those jobless people who are unvaccinated will risk their life just to get employed because they have no choice. Sadly, some is not vaccinated because they believe it is not effective and this can make the situation more difficult. There have been unbelievable rumors about vaccines causing death or turning people into zombies. These ideas are the reason why many are not willing to get vaccinated. This is also why it is difficult to convince everyone to take vaccination. But, health professionals firmly explain that getting vaccinated protects us from getting and spreading the virus. They are the ones who study viruses so we should believe in them and not the rumors spreading. All in all, the information stated above shows why Filipinos should be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. It is needed for schools and universities to resume safely. Filipinos need to earn for a living and not endanger anyone else’s life. Even if there are few people who do not want to be vaccinated, the government should raise everyone’s awareness why it is important. The knowledge of medical professionals can be used as a support to fix the wrong beliefs of some Filipinos and finally make the entire population fully vaccinated. Hannah Ritchie, Edouard Mathieu, Lucas Rodés-Guirao, Cameron Appel, Charlie Giattino, Esteban Ortiz-Ospina, Joe Hasell, Bobbie Macdonald, Diana Beltekian and Max Roser (2020) "Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19)". Published online at OurWorldInData.org. Retrieved from: 'https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus' [Online Resource] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/vaccine-benefits.html Since COVID- 19 vaccines are beginning to be available, should the government already allow face-to-face classes? Data shows that more than half of the Filipino population is already fully vaccinated. The vaccine doses given are steadily increasing which means that more and more people are willing to be vaccinated. Schools, colleges, and universities have been closed for a long time and it is time to finally conduct face-to-face classes. But, it should be limited and only on low-risk areas to prevent the possible spreading of the virus. Once everyone has received their vaccine shots, 100% implementation of face-to-face classes can be allowed. Prolonging students not to learn more effectively can negatively affect the country’s future. This is the first and the most important reason why the government should slowly allow face-to-face classes. The website Helpline PH says that there are many disadvantages of modular learning like students not taking their module wholeheartedly or parents answering their module. Students cannot learn or absorb important lessons in their homes. By allowing limited face-to-face classes as soon as possible, students can finally understand better. Another factor is for the teachers to assess and monitor the learnings of students better. Printing and organizing modules is an additional task for them. During this pandemic, most of their efforts go to waste. This is because most students are not learning anything. If they can see and hear their students personally, it can help them to teach what is needed to be taught and improve their skills as teachers too. Conducting face-to-face classes gradually may come with risks because there are still COVID-19 cases. But, it is the responsibility of the government and schools to have safety protocols. Vaccines are available and students and teachers must be vaccinated to prevent or lessen the possible effect of the virus. We can see that some entertainment buildings like malls, cinemas, and resorts have already opened. So, schools, colleges, and universities should also be resumed now because quality education is also important. Students are having difficulties absorbing lessons in a modular learning setup. Teachers are tired and cannot effectively teach their students. Entertainment establishments have reopened but face-to-face classes are still on pause. Considering that a percentage of 57.6 have already been vaccinated and more individuals are still getting their vaccines, the government should allow face-to-face classes to happen soon. It is also their job to make sure that it will be done with the strictest health protocols to avoid possible risks. Encouraging People to Get Vaccinated Because of the coronavirus disease, 3.04 million people have already died all over the world. It has only been 2 years since the epidemic started but it has greatly affected our lives. In the Philippines, 63.1 million Filipinos have already been vaccinated and this only represents 57.6% of the Philippine population. Being vaccinated is the protection that we need to secure everyone’s safety and to contribute in bringing back a COVID-free world. By not getting vaccines, more and more positive cases can happen and worst is death. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a vaccinated individual can prevent getting sick from the virus, spreading it, acquiring long-term health issues, and death. Although, vaccination cannot guarantee that a person will not acquire the virus, it is best to get a vaccine shot. It helps protect human’s body as it makes an antibody response without you having to experience sickness or feel less discomfort. Next, almost all vaccines are offered free and you can choose what brand of vaccine you want. If you feel doubtful of a certain brand, there are other brands to choose from and you can be vaccinated in places near your home. It is the responsibility of the Philippine government to provide free and accessible vaccines in local governments, so you should get vaccinated because it is your right as a Filipino. Lastly, most establishments as of this moment are now asking for vaccination cards. If you cannot present one because you are unvaccinated, you cannot enter. It is already a necessity when going outdoors like going to the schools, malls, travelling, and booking for hotels or resorts. That is why, not being vaccinated is very inconvenient because you can only go to limited places. Vaccines are made available to stop this health crisis, which is why we should get vaccinated. It can fight the coronavirus once it entered our body and destroy it. We can get vaccinated without having to pay for any charges. Vaccination cards are already a requirement wherever we go. By getting the vaccine, you are not only protecting yourself, but you are also protecting your loved ones.
