Uncertain but interesting times

My wife and I got our first jab of Sinovac at Pamplona Uno Elementary School last April 17 courtesy of the Las Piñas government. Two Saturdays later, I was in another line for an antigen nasal swab test required by the bank we work for. It’s free and was given to keep us and our clients safe. Like my COVID-19 vaccination, I was quite nervous, but thank God I got a negative result.

My daughter in Singapore and my son in Qatar received Pfizer vaccinations, while my friends and cousins in the US got Moderna. All of them told me that they got their injections easily—no panic, no long lines, and at a time and place of their own choosing. How fortunate they are!

Meanwhile, here in our country, many issues come out daily related to COVID-19: people’s preference for the Pfizer brand, incentives given by politicians to lure citizens to get vaccinated like house and lot packages, the touting of ivermectin as a remedy, the construction of vaccination centers, government’s claim of success in its vaccination rate program compared with Southeast Asian neighbors, and many other things.

The virus is airborne, and so is the election fever. Even if it’s not campaign season yet, everyone already feels Sara Duterte’s looming presidential candidacy (with her father as running mate?). Things seem to be uncertain but interesting. I’m hopeful that new COVID-19 variants will not catch us before the elections in May next year when we shall have a new president.

MARIO D. DALANGIN
Las Piñas