After becoming the first person at Bartolome Hospital to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, Dr. Carlos Santillan —the health establishment's director— urged the population to leave their fear behind and join
the immunization process, which began on Tuesday in the country, adding that it brings a lot of faith and hope.
"We ask those who are afraid to calm down and those who have some doubts to overcome them. Who have been the first to get vaccinated? Doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers who are exposed on a daily basis," he remarked.
"Do you think doctors and nurses would be that enthusiastic to receive this protection if it were not safe? I do not think so. Follow the example of
those who have decided to get vaccinated," he added.
Santillan noted that people should be afraid of the unknown, but this is not the case —he said— as vaccines have been used for many years in the world in order to control a series of diseases, which have been pushed back throughout the time.
"People are usually afraid of what might happen, of an adverse reaction. But in the face of the administration of over a million and a half vaccines in the world, the big question is: Have deaths or very severe reactions been reported? No. So, this fear is reduced," he explained.
The hospital's director asked the population to pay attention to the vaccination process in Israel —a country with the highest proportion of citizens vaccinated against COVID-19 in the world in January and where the curve of infections and deaths has dropped significantly.
"We thank all those who helped
healthcare workers —and will later help all Peruvians— get vaccinated," the doctor stated.
"This vaccination will be important if we all participate with great faith and hope, because (if we compare) this disease and what it causes (anguish, pain, hospitalization, and suffering), this little pain (in the arm) is practically nothing," he added.
Santillan explained that the vaccination process at Bartolome Hospital will take place in five days.
(END) KGR/RRC/RMB/MVB
Published: 2/9/2021