Archbishop Julian Leow (L) and Fr Raymond Pereira (R) after receiving their first dose.
By Julie Lim
June 26 2021
KUALA LUMPUR – In line with the Malaysian Government’s efforts to inoculate 80 per cent of the population by the end of 2021, the Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur, Most Rev Julian Leow, has also called on Catholics to register for the vaccine.
Despite this clarion call, many still have vaccine hesitancy. One such person was Fr Raymond Pereira, parish priest at the Church of St Thomas More in Subang Jaya.
Fr Raymond was initially doubtful about getting vaccinated as he had many questions. “I was unsure about which vaccine was best for me, what the vaccines are made of, and whether the vaccines were properly developed, given the short span of time,” he confessed.
However when the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Malaysia started skyrocketing in late May, and with the emergence of variants, Fr Raymond realised that he should get vaccinated in order to protect himself and the ones around him, especially since priests are considered frontliners too.
He said, “After seeking advice from a medical doctor, I prayed to the Holy Spirit and sought the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary for discernment. I felt inspired and encouraged to register for the vaccine.
“I then registered through the MySejahtera app and within a few days received an appointment to be vaccinated with Sinovac at Setia City Convention Centre on June 18,” said Fr Raymond, who testified that he felt a sense of peace and calm after registering.
Following the vaccination, he did not suffer from any side effects. “I felt good and could sleep well,” he said. His second jab is scheduled for July 9.
With the large amount of fake news that has caused vaccine hesitancy, Fr Raymond said, “Don’t believe everything that you read in social media or messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram. Always check that the information is from a credible source. The best is to speak to your doctor for information and advice.”
Even though it is one’s free choice to be vaccinated or not, Fr Raymond encourages everyone to do so in order to protect oneself and loved ones. “Choosing to get vaccinated is an act of love for others done in the spirit of ‘love thy neighbour’. If you still have doubts, pray and have faith,” he said. – Herald Malaysia
