CONVERSATIONS around the COVID-19 vaccine have gone out of hand.
This came after the Solomon Star newspaper published a claim from a woman that “she almost died” after taking the vaccine this week.
That story generated a lot of anxieties among the public, especially on social media.
It causes some to reconsider taking the vaccination.
But here’s the thing.
The claim made in the story was from a single source. It was never verified by a medical authority.
The story does not say whether the woman has an existing medical condition.
In other words, it was a one-sided story. So it should not be taken seriously.
The AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine is a World Health Organisation (WHO) approved vaccine.
We are not the only country taking it. Others out there are taking it, too.
WHO does not keep any secrets about the AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine.
Like any other vaccines, it says AstraZeneca has side effects, too.
In fact every medicine we take has its side effects.
Some may develop mild side effects such as pain or itchiness at the injection site, or a short period of feeling unwell.
WHO says these are common even in other injectable medicines we take when we are sick.
It’s always a good thing to discuss your existing medical conditions with the nurses before taking an injection.
This is important so that considerations could be taken before the nurses administer the injection.
Here’s another thing.
Vaccination is voluntary. Meaning no one should be forced to take the vaccine.
The Government, through health authorities, could be accused of directing our frontliners to take the vaccine.
However, this is necessary to protect the frontliners and the country from COVID-19 infection.
That’s because they deal directly on a regular basis with patients and international passengers.
Furthermore, the AstraZeneca vaccine is currently our only defence against the COVID-19 virus.
It is also the only defence against community transmission.
This is why frontliners are encouraged to take the vaccine in order to protect our country from the virus.
