Stars speak: Should I get a COVID-19 vaccine shot

While vaccines are crucial in curbing the COVID-19 pandemic, Winwyn Marquez believes that we still shouldn’t let our guard down even after getting inoculated.

“It’s a solution, but we still have to be safe and stay disciplined even after being vaccinated. If you act fearlessly or thoughtlessly, then it might just go to waste,” she said in a recent online conference for her upcoming suspense-thriller movie, “Nelia.”

As medical experts continue to study “how vaccines will affect the spread of COVID-19,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised fully vaccinated individuals to continue taking safety precautions, like wearing masks and social distancing; and avoiding medium to large-sized gatherings.

“If the vaccine becomes available, then I would get it, because I’m also thinking about the people around me. My parents (Joey Marquez and Alma Moreno) are senior citizens,” she pointed out. “I think it’s better to be safe. But we should stay disciplined, and follow the protocols.”

See more studies

Her costars Raymond Bagatsing and Vin Abrenica, on the other hand, admitted that they still have some apprehensions about getting vaccinated, and would like to see more studies about its efficacy and possible side effects.

“I’m a bit apprehensive because of some controversies regarding older people, senior citizens in the United States. I don’t know how true, but there were some who allegedly died or got sick, because their bodies couldn’t handle it (vaccines) … There are also some international doctors saying that it’s too early to say if they’re totally effective and safe,” he related.

But of course, he added, “that’s only one side” of the discussion.

“Right now, I play in the middle. If I need to be vaccinated and I have no other choice, I will take it, because it will keep me and everyone safe. I’m leaving it up to God and what the majority thinks,” he said.

As a new father, Vin said potential side effects are something he “worries about so much.” “I would like to see the results first. If something’s uncertain and if there are risks, then I won’t take it as much as possible,” related the actor, who recently welcomed his first child, a baby girl named Avianna, with his fiancee, Sophie Albert.

Assertive stance

“But if it’s all clear for the safety of everybody, and if they’re sure that nothing will happen to me, my child, my loved ones, and family, then okay, let’s get it,” he said.

Meanwhile, seasoned actor Lloyd Samartino has a more assertive stance toward vaccination, saying that he simply can’t see any other way of getting out of this pandemic.

“I believe we have to vaccinate, because this pandemic’s impact on people’s health is huge. And now, positive cases are going up again, because, sadly, we’re lagging in vaccination [rollout],” Lloyd said, adding that it would be impossible for the economy to open without it. “We supposedly have millions to buy these vaccines. I hope they trickle down to the masses, so we can all stay safe. While some of us can stay [inside], workers outside, like policemen or market vendors, have no choice but to be at their workplaces, where there are many people,” he said.

Without vaccination, Lloyd believes that the country will be stuck in this cycle. “I hope we can get to it, so the cases go down. It has been a year already and paulit-ulit lang. That’s how I feel about it. Industries are dying, the movie industry is suffering,” he said. “I don’t see any other way based on what I have seen and read, so I hope we get the right vaccine.”