by Xyzma Kryshel Bober
Ka Puti wakes before dawn. He lies unmoving, listening to the bird chorus, chirp after chirp resounding across the village, just like the stable rhythm of his heartbeat. “Ka Puti! Ka Puti! Hindi ka pa ba magtatapon ng basura? Tara bumili na din tayo ng pandesal!” his neighbor, Eddie Boy*, disrupted the calm.
(Ka Puti! Ka Puti! Are you not going to bring the trash out yet? Let’s go together and buy some pandesal!)
Ka Puti is a 54-year-old government worker, a husband, a father of three, and the sole breadwinner of their family who is fortunate enough to live in a private subdivision, but poor enough to lose all his savings after one trip to the hospital.
Under the COVID-19 pandemic, this means Ka Puti willingly goes to work everyday, earns money, and exposes himself to the virus to provide for his family.
“Pinatigil ko na muna sa trabaho si misis. Mahirap magkacovid, napakadelikado. Higher risk acquiring the virus if both of us go out on a daily basis.” Ka Puti said with a face of both worry and relief.
(I asked my wife to stop working. She might contract the virus, it is too risky.)
“Wala akong magawa kahit gipit sa income, para din naman sa ikabubuti namin. Priority ang health ng family namin.” Ka Puti’s wife, Rose*, added.
(I had no choice even if we were struggling financially. This is for the best. We prioritize our family’s health.)
This was a choice they made as a family, but not a choice many Filipinos like them can make.
But now that the government has rolled out vaccines for the A4 priority group, including individuals with comorbidities like himself, Ka Puti insists on not being vaccinated.
A selfish act to most is the most unselfish act a father does
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccines are one of the safest and most effective interventions for fighting infectious diseases.
But there are still anti-vaxxers, like Ka Puti, who believe vaccines are unsafe.
Ka Puti’s reason is the fear of not being able to provide for the needs of his family.
“Noong nakaraan na buwan nga nag-ikot na mga taga baranggay para magpalista para sa bakuna. Sabi nila pag nag-waive na, hindi na puwedeng maisama sa listahan ng mababakunahan. Hindi pa rin ako nagpalista,” he said.
(Last month, barangay workers roamed around and conducted a house-to-house visit to gather information of residents who want to be included in the list of people to be vaccinated. They said once we waive, we cannot be included in the list anymore. But I still did not sign up for it.)
When asked why, Ka Puti answered readily with confidence, “I would rather maintain my careful lifestyle kaysa magpabakuna para sa covid. Alcohol minu-minuto, suot ng face mask, face shield, doble ingat sa mga hinahawakan, ligo sa labas ng bahay bago makapagpahinga at makakain ng hapunang handa ni misis.”
(I would rather maintain my careful lifestyle than get the COVID-19 vaccine. I use alcohol every minute, wear a face mask and face shield, be extra cautious in touching objects outside, take a bath at the garage before I rest and eat whatever my wife prepared for dinner.)
To many, this may seem like a selfish decision for a family man to make. However, Ka Puti says, “sas delikado i-risk ang buhay ko kung magpapabakuna ako dahil sa akin din nakasalalay ang buhay ng pamilya ko.
(It would be more dangerous if I risk my own life by getting vaccinated because I am the breadwinner of my family — their life depends on me.)
A time when your family’s suffering is scarier than the virus
The recent hike in COVID-19 cases in the Philippines alarms many, including Ka Puti’s wife and sons. More so because the supposed pillar of the family refuses the free vaccination of their LGU.
“Kinausap ko na si Papa na mababa naman ang chance na may negative effects sa pagpapabakuna. Sinabi ko na rin na mas mabuti pa rin na may bakuna siya kaysa wala, lalo na’t siya yung mas exposed. ” said Joseph*, Ka Puti’s eldest son.
(I already told him that the chances are low of having side effects from the vaccine. I also told him that it would be better if he would be vaccinated because he is the most exposed among all of us.” said Joseph, Ka Puti’s eldest son.)
But Ka Puti remains unmoved. “Alam mo naman na neto lang nakaraan naospital yung kaibigan ko ng ilang linggo two days matapos mabakunahan. Nasa abroad pa yun ha.
(You are aware that my friend abroad was hospitalized for several weeks, just two days after being vaccinated.)
Although the extreme side effects Ka Puti’s friend experienced is unusual, it is a natural and valid argument for a breadwinner like Ka Puti to refuse COVID-19 vaccination.
“Kung maospital ako, para na din tayong nasunugan ng bahay at naubos lahat ng ari-arian sa isang iglap.”
(We would live like we lost all our belongings in a house fire if I get hospitalized because I took the COVID-19 vaccine.)
“Ikalawang taon palang ni Joseph* sa kolehiyo, senior high pa lang yung pangalawa ko, at Grade 5 pa lang si bunso. Hindi ko pwede ilagay ang sarili ko sa walang katiyakan na magandang dulot ng bakuna.”
(Joseph is just a second-year college student, my second child is just in senior high, and my youngest child is just a fifth grader. I cannot put myself in a situation without assurance that the vaccine will benefit us.)
Ka Puti’s fear is every parent’s worry: endangering their child’s future because of a major life decision such as buying a brand new car on installment. But in Ka Puti’s case, the major life decision is being vaccinated.
Redefining the definition: “anti-vaxxer”
Anti-vaxxer online communities are relatively small yet they continue to grow with the help of misinformation and vaccine myths circulating the internet.
Which makes Ka Puti rare as far as anti-vaxxers go, because he recognizes the legitimacy of COVID-19 vaccines.
“Alam ko naman na rare case ang matinding side effects mula sa vaccine. Iyong mga kapatid ko naman na nabakunahan na ay maayos lang ang pakiramdam. Pinagkaiba lang namin, hindi sila ang bumubuhay sa pamilya nila at afford ng mga asawa nila kung maospital man sila.”
(I know that it is rare for people to experience extreme side effects from the vaccine. My siblings who are vaccinated say they are feeling just fine. Our only difference is, they are not the breadwinners of their families and their husbands can afford to pay the hospital fees.)
He simply chooses not to be vaccinated because his and his family’s life depends on it.
Ka Puti is not yet a senior citizen, but he shares the same sentiment of letting the younger generation have the vaccine instead of taking it for himself.
“Mas matagal na kaming buhay at mas marami din kaming responsibilidad na kailangan gampanan. Mas mabuti pa na sila nalang ang makinabang. Hindi pa maisasaalangala ang kinabukasan ng pamilya ko.”
(We already lived long enough and that also means we have more responsibilities. It would be better for them [the kids] to be vaccinated. In that way, my family’s future would not be at risk too.)
Ka Puti’s decision of not being vaccinated lies in the fact that his family’s present and future well-being depends on his maximum safety in these trying times.
Knowing full-well he is vulnerable to the virus, Ka Puti gets out of bed to meet Eddie Boy. He takes out the trash, buys pandesal for his family, and sets out to go to his 8:00 am to 5:00 p.m. desk job, armored with his face mask, face shield, and small bottle of alcohol.
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