ZHENYA MAYLYAN:
“Thanks to vaccination, I feel more protected and confident.”

Zhenya Mayilyan, Chairperson of the Real World, Real People social non-governmental organization (Armenia), has been seriously ill with the coronavirus, has undergone a complete vaccination, and calls on the residents of the Republic of Armenia and other countries to get vaccinated.

Zhenya, tell us, what is the situation with vaccination against Covid-19 in Armenia?

Notwithstanding all the calls for vaccinations and the great work done by the Ministry of Health and the country’s authorities in this area, we accidentally have a tiny percentage of vaccinated people. As in other countries, “anti-vaccinators” also actively work in Armenia, who play havoc among people. Sadly, there are medical workers and doctors among these people too.

Against the background of the worsening of the situation with COVID-19, the Ministry of Health of Armenia introduced a new requirement, in connection with which starting from October 1, workers in some spheres in the country must provide the employer with a negative PCR test for coronavirus every 14 days, taken no later than 72 hours in advance. Vaccinated citizens (fully vaccinated or received the first dose), pregnant women, and people with medical contraindications for vaccination can come to work without a negative PCR test.

The state and people who work in the healthcare sector do a lot to convey the importance and necessity of vaccination. Still, among ordinary people, there are myths about a worldwide conspiracy to exterminate humanity, introduce chips, etc.

Zhenya, do you personally support mass vaccination?

Yes, of course, I support vaccination. On October 12, I already received my second Covid-19 vaccine dose. I got vaccinated so late because I had a high level of antibodies after the illness. Every month I monitored the number of antibodies in the body, and as soon as they decreased, I immediately got vaccinated.

Were there personal fears? What urged you to get vaccinated personally, since there is a common myth that vaccination is unnecessary in the presence of antibodies?

Last December, I caught Covid-19. I have never felt so bad. Honestly, I even had thoughts that I was about to die. Although I did not have a critical condition and was treated at home under a doctor’s supervision, my condition was tough. Even then, I thought that if I got sick with Covid-19 again, I couldn’t take it anymore.

I approached vaccination deliberately. Before I made up my mind, I studied a lot of local and foreign recommendations: what they do in developed countries, what WHO says, and the opinion of world leaders. I also studied the side effects of each vaccine, consulted with local doctors, and was ready to get vaccinated.

After the Delta strain appeared in our country, people, often young people, began to die, and I decided it was time to get vaccinated. In addition, I already had low antibodies at that time, and I understood that in case of a second time, vaccination would help me overcome it more easily. Also, one of the essential factors for me was the issue of public health. And now I am glad that I was not afraid. I made up my mind and got vaccinated. I chose the Sinopharm (Beijing) vaccine. I had no side effects: no temperature, no pain, I did not feel anything unusual. After the vaccination, I became calmer and no longer afraid of getting sick because I was sure that I would overcome the disease much more manageable.

“Do not believe in the conspiracy theory and the destruction of humanity; vaccination is our chance to transfer the disease more easily.”

Zhenya Mayilyan

Zhenya, you work with people who have HIV infections. It means that they have a weakened immune system. Do they need to be vaccinated against COVID-19?

Many people come to us with this question. Definitely, yes, you need to. There are recommendations for vaccination of this population group. We (employees of the organization “Real World, Real People”) explain to clients the advantages of vaccination, provide information about the side effects of each vaccine available in the country, and emphasize that it is imperative to consult your doctor.

First, we strive for everyone to be healthy and happy. Therefore, I urge people who can’t bring themselves to get vaccinated to believe in conspiracy theories. Secondly, I recommend looking for information from trusted, official sources using scientifically proven data. Third, I advise you to trust the recommendations of your attending physician. Do not self-medicate or believe in myths about the destruction of humanity. It is necessary to trust the doctors and ask them all the questions that concern each person.

Thanks to vaccination, I feel more secure and confident, which I wish for all of you!

Reference:

The Real World, Real People organization, was founded in 2003 by a group of doctors and people living with HIV. They were not indifferent to the problem of HIV with the aim of improving the quality of life of people living with HIV. The organization collaborates with local and international organizations. Throughout its activities, the organization has always emphasized the importance of a tolerant attitude towards the community of people living with HIV and the most vulnerable population groups. To do this, she, together with partner organizations, annually holds dozens of events with the participation of famous people, celebrities.

The number of fully vaccinated citizens of Armenia, in percentage (constantly updated):

Additional Details

The process of mass vaccination started in Armenia on April 13, and it is planned to vaccinate about 700 thousand residents by the end of the year.

The following COVID-19 vaccines are approved in Armenia:

Oxford / AstraZeneca
Sinopharm (Beijing)
Sinovac
Sputnik V
Moderna