by Marvin Gabatin

In its effort to maintain PUNP a safe and healthy community, the Office of Student Services (OSS) through the University Clinic, held a CoViD-19 Vaccine Webinar on Friday, November 12^th via zoom with the main purpose of educating PUNP students of the benefits they could get from the vaccines.

Ms. Divina Russ Refuerzo, RN, an authorized CoViD-19 vaccinator at the Municipality of San Nicolas, encouraged the participants to get themselves vaccinated not only to protect themselves from the dreaded disease but also the people around them. “Once you are inoculated with the CoViD-19 vaccine, you are not only protecting yourself but most especially your loved ones and other people around you,” Ms. Refuerzo said during the webinar.

Further, as she spoke to nearly 700 students, she encouraged them not to be afraid of the vaccine nor the effects of it in their body as it has more benefits to them. She continued by recollecting her personal experience when she and her family members got infected by CoViD-19 last year, but since they were already vaccinated, they did not experience severe symptoms and were not confined to the hospital. She said, “Wag kayong matakot sa vaccine. Pag nakapagpa-vaccine na kayo hindi na kayo matatakot kasi may protection na ang katawan niyo laban sa malalang effect ng covid sa atin.” [Do not be afraid of the vaccine. Once you are vaccinated, you have nothing to worry because your body has already acquired immunity against severe CoViD-19.]

The webinar was conducted in preparation for the Mass Vaccination Program to be held at the University for its students. Based on an initial survey, 47% or around 700 students (ages 18 up) have yet to be vaccinated as of writing.