From Russia With (Not Much) Love

 

     Two nights ago, in his late night comedy, er, address to the nation, President Duterte announced that Russia would soon unveil its COVID-19 vaccine and give some to the Philippines, and our president happily announced that he was willing to be inoculated by it. The next day, lo and behold, Russian President Putin announced that his country had developed a vaccine, which they called Sputnik V, referencing not the notorious Sigue Sigue Sputnik gang here in the Philippines but  the world’s first satellite. Before the whole world, terribly weary of the disease, could rejoice, it turned out that the vaccine was kind of shadowy, that it hadn’t completed all the necessary clinical trials, making it quite dangerous--and the Filipinos who would receive it, guinea pigs.

     Putin-ina! Duterte might have cursed regarding the vaccine’s quickness.

     I agree that taking the vaccine would really be risky, but I suggest that President Duterte, while the safety of Sputnik V is still being determined, should go ahead with his plan of being inoculated by the vaccine, then, we’d watch how he’d fare.

     If he turns into a zombie, I’m sure people would gladly rush to bash his head with baseball bats.

     If Sputnik V immunizes him, then, he’d be a global hero and a legend.

     And speaking of a legend, the brouhaha regarding Sputnik V vaccine’s safety, of course, reminds many people of the 2007 post-apocalyptic thriller film I Am Legend, which stars Will Smith. A possible cure for cancer created from a man-made virus terribly backfired and killed 90 % of the world’s population while turning the 9.8% into zombie-like albino mutants called Darkseekers, who, like vampires, are extremely vulnerable to sunlight. The remaining 0.2% are immune to the virus and become prey and food for the Darkseekers.

     Mission of Will Smith’s character, a military virologist, is to find a cure and seek other survivors.

     The movie is available on Netflix, it's quite entertaining, though ending feels rushed, watch it and be forewarned of readily injecting any vaccine or medicine into your body.

     There are now 20+ million COVID-19 cases and more than 700+ thousand deaths with 13+ million recoveries in the world. Here in the Philippines, COVID-19 cases have just surpassed 140 thousand with 2 thousand deaths and 68 thousand recoveries.

     But the good news is, not one infected by COVID-19 has turned into a zombie and several possibly-safe and effective vaccines are on its way.

     Lastly, you know this problem regarding the virus is getting out of hand when the authorities advise you to wear mask during sex and to avoid the missionary position.

     Safe vaccine, come here forthwith.