Brothers and sisters, there’s a joke spreading in social media about how our government is addressing the Covid-19 pandemic. If other countries are in phase 1, phase 2, or phase 3 of producing their vaccines to fight the virus, the Philippines, on the other hand, stays with the face shield as a precaution.
In Singapore, their shipment of imported vaccines have arrived, and they are set to begin vaccinating those highly exposed to the virus such as frontline and health-care workers. They are also hoping to vaccinate every Singaporean by the end of this year. The vaccine will be administered for free. In Vietnam, they created their own vaccine, and they are aiming to release it by mid-year. Their government prioritizes having their own vaccine to ensure that the entire population of almost 100 million gets vaccinated.
The United Kingdom has started vaccinating their citizens, followed by wealthy countries in America and Europe. Time is of the essence for the governments of different countries to save their people from the virus that affected around 78 million people and took the lives of 1.73 million in the whole world. Which is why, in his Urbi et Orbi this past Christmas, Pope Francis called for the unity of nations to ensure that poor countries will also receive
vaccines and medicine.
More worrisome is the discovery of a new strain of the coronavirus. This was first discovered in the United Kingdom, and it is now reportedly spreading in other countries. According to President Duterte, cases of this new strain were found in Sabah, Malaysia, that’s why he urged government officials to be more vigilant in Jolo, and there have been numerous calls for a more extensive travel ban. But for Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, the travel ban can be considered only if there will be evidence of a community transmission of the new coronavirus strain. The secretary seems to have forgotten the reinforced lockdown in the UK because of the spread of the new strain. While our leaders are still thinking of preventing foreigners from entering the country, the DOH secretary went to a local market to remind the citizens to maintain physical distancing, using a meter stick.
Meanwhile, we just found out this past week that there are soldiers and government officials who got shots from vaccines made in China. This occurred even if there aren’t any vaccines approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The people concerned in this issue that was raised denied accusations, but eventually, it was found out that members of the Presidential Security Guard and other high-ranking officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines were already vaccinated. Even more surprising, the government insists the use of a vaccine made in China regardless of its low efficacy rate and high price compared to other vaccines with better efficacy rates.
Following the steps taken by the government, we beg the question: Are our leaders truly prioritizing our welfare? Our lives are at stake, but why are we receiving such news just now? Why does it seem that we haven’t learned anything from disregarding travel bans? Why are we sticking to just the primary health restrictions instead of prioritizing the acquisition of effective and
affordable vaccines?
Brothers and sisters, it is a great reminder for us what is said in the book of Acts 20:28, “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.” Our leaders are here to govern us well, and prioritize—not compromise—our welfare and safety.
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