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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Misinformation fueling vaccine hesitancy, says Pinay nurse who administered world's 1st Covid-19 vaccine

Misinformation fueling vaccine hesitancy, says Pinay nurse who administered world's 1st Covid-19 vaccine

Published Aug 22, 2022 08:19 pm

Misinformation fuels vaccine hesitancy, said May Parsons, the Filipina nurse who administered the first Covid-19 vaccine shot in the world.

(Manila Bulletin File Photo)

In December 2020, Parsons administered the world's first Covid-19 vaccine outside clinical trials to Margaret Keenan. Nearly two years after this took place, Parsons was welcomed by her Alma Mater – University of Santo Tomas (UST) where she paid a courtesy call to various UST officials and organizations as part of her homecoming.

On the same day, a press conference was also held, where Parsons disclosed the difference between the United Kingdom and the Philippines’ vaccination programs.

The UK, according to Parsons, has a high vaccination rate, whereas in the Philippines, many are still hesitant to get vaccinated and boosted.

“I think the reason for that is that they are actively seeking the truth and seeking the real information out there. I think with the Philippines, there are lots of social media platforms that are actually spreading misinformation,” said Parsons on Monday, Aug. 22.

“It gives them the disadvantage actually, there is that protection that they could avail but they couldn’t, because again they are not getting the real information out there or choose the one that is easier to get,” she added.

Latest data from the Department of Health (DOH) showed that 72,323,766 Filipinos have already completed their primary vaccine doses as of Aug. 21. Of this number, only 17,489,964 have been boosted against the disease.

Meanwhile, in February 2022, DOH disclosed that the vaccine hesitancy among Filipinos has gone down to 10 percent from about 30 percent at the start of the year.

Parsons, on the other hand, encouraged FIlipinos to get vaccinated, noting that most deaths recorded in the UK were among the unvaccinated ones.

“Please take the vaccine. You’re taking a gamble on your health and on how your body’s going to react. It is a gamble not worth-taking. Meron na tayong proteksyon so please, protect yourselves (We already have the protection, so please protect yourselves),” she furthered.

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