Some Filipinos still believe COVID vaccine would turn them into flesh-eating zombies

It's very surprising that many refuse to get vaccinated because of conspiracy theory.

By Edward Era Barbacena

 

Philippines President Duterte was surprised when there are about almost 50 percent of the country's population is not yet vaccinated despite of the relentless vaccination drive carried out. Duterte had enough of the Filipinos who refused to be inoculated against the coronavirus, so he ordered them to be arrested once get caught roaming outside the public.

Filipinos being Asians are known to be receptive to the covid-19 vaccines and the precautionary mandates amid the pandemic.  It was a bit appalling that only 51 % of the entire population have completed their jabs and are now scheduled for their boosters.  

Just what are reasons behind why many Filipinos refused to be vaccinated.  Well, there are reasons that my be considered as very ridiculous.  Few are afraid that since covid-19 shots are relatively new, they may suffer from unknown future adverse effects similar to dengvaxia, some are just too stupid believing in many hoaxes being shared by many American conspiracy theorists.  One of the most pathetic conspiracy theories made by American propagandists  is that the covid- 19 vaccine may turn you into a flesh-eating zombies.

One of the many American conspiracy theorist who brought the bizarre idea that covid-19 vaccine  can turn our modern time into an apocalyptic era with zombies roaming around after being vaccinated is Daniel W. Drezner.  He emphasizes the terrible parallels between the pandemic and the zombie apocalypse while the vaccine is being rolled out.

"We thought it was just a story but I've heard of that so many times in Quezon (province), in Bicol (region), I thought it with was merely hearsay but I've heard of that ( zombie news) so many time in Quezon, Bicol and various areas), '' Malaya said.

The belief that coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine would turn them into zombies is discouraging some people to be inoculated, a ranking official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) disclosed on Sunday, Jan. 9.

DILG spokesperson Usec. Jonathan Malaya said he himself was surprised of this bizarre belief based on the information he had been receiving in the past.

He also disclosed that there are some religious groups who have been telling their followers that vaccination is demonic or satanic.

We are always telling that the government will not do anything that will harm the public,’’ he added.

Malaya said that the government had already coordinated with the religious groups stressing that these bizarre stories have no basis reiterating that putting the people’s lines at risk during the pandemic is out of the equation.

Meanwhile, Malaya noted that the DILG had not received reports of any unvaccinated barangay captains or kagawads in the National Capital Region (NCR).

He warned that the barangay captain is liable in case the COVID-19 surge in his jurisdiction is traced to the poor implementation of the minimum public health standards (MPHS) which includes the unabated outdoor activities of their unvaccinated residents.

“Barangay captain may face administrative, criminal and civil cases precisely because they are government officials,” said Malaya.

Many charges can be filed against them for dereliction of duty, simple misconduct, negligence and we can file many more the barangay captains are aware of that,’’ he added. (Chito A. Chavez)