Filipino expats in the UAE have expressed their confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine that was recently approved by the UAE government as they received their first dose of the vaccine.
From medical frontliners, teachers, managers, entrepreneurs, and more – majority of these Filipino expats shared that they experienced minor to no side effects at all days after they received their first dose.
Here are their stories:
Workmates Arlene Himoc, Claudeth Ballestero, and their manager Gerry, all took the vaccine last December 13 at the Mediclinic Khalifa Branch in Abu Dhabi.
They shared that they decided to take it not only to protect themselves, they also wish to protect the customers that they serve at their dress shop as well.
“Syempre po for our safety against COVID. Makabalik ang lahat sa normal pero siyempre kailangan pa ding sundin ang precautionary measures. At dahil nasa sales business po kami protection din ng staff at ng customers namin, said Himoc.
Himoc shared that while she was afraid of the needle, she only experienced minor pains when she got the jab: “wala naman na po akong naramdaman na ibang sakit, bukod po doon sa turok.”
She shared that she’s grateful for the UAE government for giving the opportunity for expats to receive the vaccine.
“Super grateful po kami sa UAE for considering expats as their own – for their generosity and prioritizing health and safety ng lahat. Kahit ano pa ang nationality. Thank you po,” said Himoc.
Filipinos in the COVID-19 frontlines also took part in the country’s COVID-19 campaign for emergency use.
Jose Zaphiel Capuno shared that he was one of the nurses who had been administering the vaccine for clinical trial participants for the past months. When the opportunity came, he decided to participate and received his first and second doses last November 23 and December 14 at ADNEC.
“(Nagpabakuna ako) upang maproteksyonan ko ang aking sarili laban sa COVID 19 at para maipaalam sa iba na ligtas ang bakuna na aming ibinibigay dito sa UAE. Dahil tuwing ako kay magbibigay ng bakuna ang palaging tanong ng mga tao ay kung nagpabakuna na daw ba ako at ano ang aking naramdaman,” said Capuno.
The frontliner shared that while he didn’t experience any side effects during the first dose, he did experience dizziness during the second, but shared that it was only a temporary side effect.
“Sa Unang dose wala naman akong kakaibang, naipagpatuloy ko pa ang duty ng walang problema, ngunit sa pangalawang tusok ay nakaramdam na ako ng panghihina at pagkahilo. Ito naman ay nawala din agad matapos akong umidlip.”
He thanked the UAE for prioritizing frontliners like himself to get protected from the virus through the approved vaccine.
“Bilang isa sa mga COVID 19 Responders nagpapasalamat ako sa UAE dahil sa napakabilis na pagaksyon nila laban sa Virus na ito. Para sa akin napakaswerte naming mga nandito ngayon sa UAE dahil isa tayo sa pinakaunang nabakunahan sa buong mundo,” said Capuno.
Michael Siapno, another COVID-19 response nurse, also took his first jab last November 30 at ADNEC. He shared that he only experienced pains on his shoulder where the vaccine was administered and nothing more.
“Normal lang po ang aking pakiramdam, masakit at mabigat lang po ung pinagturukan ng bakuna pero after two days nawala na po ito,” recalled Siapno.
Siapno thanked the UAE for allowing all residents, regardless of nationality, to receive the vaccine to help protect them from the virus: “Labis ang aking pasasalamat sa pamunuan ng UAE sa pagbibigay ng bakuna laban sa COVID 19 sa lahat ng residente at sa mga iba’t ibang lahi ng tao na nagtratrabaho dto sa UAE ipinakita ng pamunuan ng UAE ang kanilang malasakit sa mga tao. Para sa aking proteksyon at ng aking pamilya laban sa COVID 19 virus, mahirap po ang magkasakit, ika nga Health is wealth.”
Kismette Riguerra and her husband shared that they learned that residents can now take the COVID-19 jab through a government-led campaign at their area.
They decided to take the jab last week at the Al Falah Majlis to give them peace of mind against the threat of the virus.
“Napagdesisyunan naming mag-asawa na magpabakuna para maproteksyonan namin ang aming sarili, pamilya at mga nakakasalamuha sa trabaho at komunidad. Bukod sa pananatili ng malusog na pangatawanan, magsuot ng mask at social distancing, ang pagbabakuna ay magbibigay ng panatag na kalooban at isipan dahil ang covid/pandemya ay narito pa rin,” said Riguerra.
She shared that when they got the jab, she experienced mixed feelings as she was afraid of the side effects that she and her husband would experience: “Magkahalong kaba at tuwa. Kaba sa pag-iisip ng magiging reaksyon ng katawan ko sa bakuna.”
Riguerra expressed her gratitude to be living and working in the UAE where the leadership really values the wellbeing of their residents.
“Mapalad tayo na andito sa bansang pinanahahalagahan ng mga lider ang kalusugan at kakapanan ng bawat tao maging tayong mga expat. Kinasasabikan ko ang araw para sa ikalawang turok. Kami ay nagpapasalamat sa pamahalaan ng UAE sa pangunguna ng mga lider sa pangangalaga sa lahat ng nakatira sa UAE, lokal man o expat,” said Riguerra.
Christian Gonzales was among the 31,000 participants of the COVID-19 clinical trials and received his first dose last August 9. He recalled that he decided to join the clinical trials in order to ensure that the coronavirus would not impede in his goals to continue providing for his family back in the Philippines.
“Napagdesisyunan ko pong magpabakuna sa kadahilanang gusto ko ay may panlaban ako sa sakit na dulot ng COVID-19 , upang maprotektahan ko ang aking sarili, sa pagka’t kaya ako nagtatrabaho para kumita para sa kinabukasan ng aking pamilya at mahal sa buhay,” said Gonzales.
Fast forward four months after, he shared that he feels fine and well after he took part in the trials. He thanks the UAE for ensuring that their residents remain safe from the threat of the virus.
“Maraming salamat sa pangunguna sa malawakang pagbabakuna sa mga OFW at maging sa mga ibang expat na naninirahan sa UAE, ito ay matibay na patunay na ligtas at payapa ang kaisipan ng mga tao laban sa banta na dulot ng COVID 19. Ipagpatuloy ninyo ang inyong nasimulan at saludo kami sa inyong kagitingan ninyo,” said Gonzales.
When Bell Santillan learned that the UAE has started to roll out vaccination for residents, she was admittedly hesitant at first. However, her husband urged her to get vaccinated stating that the UAE has already provided a chance to help its residents protect themselves from the virus.
“My husband told me that ‘the entire world has been praying for that vaccine, ngayon ayaw mo’ and just to trust God. Kaya I decided na “cge na nga” para din po sa everyday routine ng life natin na need magtrabaho dahil kasi kung puros takot tayo hindi matatapos ang pandemya,” said Santillan who received her first dose last December 9.
Santillan shared that she hasn’t experienced any side effect so far. “Praise God at wala pong naging anumang side effect ang bakuna sa akin.”
“Thank you UAE at salamat sa opportunity. Salamat sa masaganang buhay, at salamat dahil sa bansang eto nabigyan namin ng magandang buhay ang aming mga anak. Salamat sa pag-aalaga sa aming mga residente at salamat sa pagmamahal,” added Santillan.
