Position Paper
Type of claim: Claim of Fact
Thesis Statement (Stand): How can we stop this pandemic? For COVID vaccine distribution to be given equal access.
As new COVID-19 variants emerge, equal and rapid access to vaccines is more important than ever. Vaccination is a simple, safe, and successful method of protecting people from potentially fatal infections before they meet them. It strengthens your immune system by utilizing your body's defenses to create resistance to specific pathogens. Vaccines instruct your immune system to produce antibodies in the same way as it does when expose to a disease. Vaccines, on the other hand, do not cause the disease or put you in danger of its complications because they include only killed or weakened versions of pathogens such as viruses or bacteria. Vaccination is a safe and efficient strategy to prevent disease and save lives, and it is more important now than ever. Vaccines for at least 20 illnesses, including diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, influenza, and measles, are now accessible. Every year, these immunizations save the lives of up to 3 million individuals. We are not just protecting ourselves when we get vaccinated, but we are also protecting people around us. Some people, such as the critically ill, are recommended not to receive vaccines, so they rely on the rest of us to get vaccinated and help prevent disease spread. WHO works to guarantee that vaccines are safe and effective for all people everywhere? To accomplish this, we work with governments to develop rigorous vaccine safety processes and to apply stringent international standards to control them.
With the number of new COVID-19 cases virtually doubling in the last two months — nearing the pandemic's greatest infection rate — unequal vaccine distribution is not only a moral outrage but also monetarily and epidemiologically self-defeating. The hashtag #NotoVIPVaccination dominated online conversations after government officials, including President Rodrigo Duterte, revealed that Cabinet members and members of the Presidential Security Group had already been vaccinated for the coronavirus, even though frontline health workers, including those from public and private health facilities, should be given priority. Some compare the immunization of the PSG and a Cabinet member to the scenario in March when government employees were chastised for having access to the COVID-19 test despite limited test kits. Filipinos have once again questioned the Duterte administration's priorities, claiming that the so-called "VIP vaccine" is "unfair" and "unjust." And I completely agree; health workers and uniformed personnel should be prioritized because they have a larger risk of exposure while on the job, and they should be able to continue performing their tasks in both the public and private sectors. It's a slap in the face to medical staff who were overlooked on the vaccine priority list.
Vaccinations are both safe and effective. The Cove 19 outbreak has created a problem for children's rights that must be addressed as quickly as possible. The longer the epidemic continues, the greater the effects on people's health, education, nutrition, safety, and mental health, particularly among youngsters. To stabilize the long-term health of children and families in the Philippines, Covid 19 must be part of a comprehensive immunization plan. The move to a new normal existence acknowledges the danger of infectious diseases threatening our health and safety. Our experience with an infectious society demonstrates that an egalitarian society serves the interests of all, not only the most vulnerable members of society. As a result, the response should take advantage of the opportunity to ensure equity, focus on the concerns of disadvantaged and vulnerable people, and prioritize projects that can go beyond the current epidemic.
