ROXAS CITY — Three medical frontliners who were vaccinated with China-made Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines shared their experiences after inoculation.
Gino Paulo Buizon, head nurse of the St. Anthony College Hospital, said he felt okay after getting the vaccine shot.
“As a healthcare worker who has been praying for COVID-19 vaccines to be developed and availed by all the soonest (time), I can say that I did not feel any disturbing thoughts or anxiety, given my knowledge and understanding about vaccines,” Buizon said in an interview on March 14.
“So far, two days after my first shot of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine, I haven’t experienced any side effects,” Buizon said.
He stressed, “there was a thorough health assessment conducted before we subjected ourselves to get a shot of the vaccine….we were monitored for any side effects or adverse reactions.”
A Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital employee who requested anonymity said he still has doubts about the vaccine being effective despite being vaccinated already.
“So far, waay ako side effects nga na experience. I am a bit worried on what will be the pros and cons of being vaccinated with Sinovac pero hoping man ko dyapon sang manami nga effects sang vaccine sa lawas in the future if ma-complete na ang dosage,” the frontliner added.
Sheila Mae Mutya Manalili of St. Anthony College Hospital said she had hesitations about getting the Sinovac shots, too.
“Actually, sa start pa lang hesitant pa ko mag pa-vaccine because kay Sinovac lang ang available…gusto ko tani ang iban man bala nga brand like AstraZeneca which is taas man ang efficacy rate,” Manalili said.
“But later on, na-realize ko as a frontliner, much better na lang nga magpa-vaccine sang kung anu lng ang available at least ma-protectionan na ako,” Manalili added.
“So far, wala man ko may nabtyagan nga side effects aside sa daw gabinhod lng arm ko sa kung diin gin-inject. Normal man lang ni siya kay last time pagpa-vaccine ko sang flu, nag amu man ni. Siguro natural lng man. Subong okay naman,” Manalili added.
The Capiz provincial government conducted the COVID-19 vaccination program for the medical frontliners on March 10.
For Capiz, 2,440 vials were allocated to the medical frontliners and other health workers from the five public hospitals and four private hospitals in the province.
For public hospitals, 650 went to Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital; Bailan District Hospital, 150; Mambusao District Hospital, 150; Sen. Gerardo M. Roxas Memorial District Hospital, 120; and Tapaz District Hospital, 90.
For the private hospitals, 450 went to St. Anthony College Hospital Inc.; Capiz Emmanuel Hospital Inc., 350; Capiz Doctors’ Hospital, Inc., 300; and The Health Centrum Hospital, Inc., 150.*
