Informed Consent

Crazy busy tearful day, and yet I managed to get some photos out to document it.

Haven't had much time to study the intricacies of the COVID19 vaccine, but what hit me was that people don't like to talk about the possible adverse events folllwing immunization (AEFI) because it might scare the general public from getting vaccinated.  The problem is, as a member of the general public, I don't like being kept in the dark.  All throughout the pandemic we have been saying "do not allow your fears to paralyze you". Knowledge will be your greatest weapon.

My bioethics teacher told me that INFORMED CONSENT includes the components of full accurate information necessary to make a decision (information-giving), and one's voluntary willingness to proceed (consent).  So if health authorities want to improve COVID19 vaccine acceptance, it has to exert efforts in educating people that the BENEFITS of vaccination outweigh the risks.  We have to accept and admit that there are risks. The vaccinees need to willingly take that risk. These risks exist, but we can mitigate these risks and we can be prepared to deal and manage these AEFIs.

We owe it to our vaccinees to provide correct vital information about our interventions so that as recipients of the vaccine, we can properly identify potential side effects and promptly report and seek consult and care.

Keep safe everyone!