ENABLING ASSESSMENT 3 – ARTICLE ANALYSIS APPLICATION OF LESSON 3

The Perils of Vaccine Messianism by Gideon Lasco

First, let us talk about what the article is about. The article center on vaccine messianism. In definition,
messianism is the belief in the advent of a messiah who acts as the savior or liberator of a group of
people. In summarization, the writer wants to express his/her concerns on the perpetuating idea
nowadays about COVID19, in which without a vaccine, we will not be able to beat the crisis. First, there
was an explanation on how vaccines are being recognized by various country leaders as the only solution
for COVID19, claiming it by spreading the notion that “no vaccine, no normal life”. Subsequently, the
writer then expressed his/her concerns on which why the idea of a vaccine as a solution may bring more
problems instead of hope to the world. Clearly, the writer is very doubtful on the idea of a vaccine, with
his/her ending statement saying, “Vaccination may yet save the world from the pandemic, but only if we
save it from further politicization.”

As a student, I am exposed to various kinds of articles – some of which uses flowery words, simplicity, or
expertise in terms, especially in the world of the academe. However, in the article provided I decided to
read and understand the writer as a simple citizen, concerned with knowing the status of the vaccine for
COVID19 and the dangers it might bring to the crisis we are facing today. After reading the article, I
struggled with three barriers of communication, in relation to Lesson 3. First, the article sounds
overloaded with information. Seeing it from a normal citizen’s perspective, as it is related to crisis, the
writer could have chosen a much simpler way of expressing his/her thoughts on the issue at hand: a
vaccine for COVID19. It is also connected with the second barrier, which is using jargons. There were too
many technical terms, and instead of fostering curiosity and enlightenment, the article sounded
pretentious and complicated. Lastly, simplifying the language would have given the article a much better
chance in informing the citizens concerned (which in this case, everyone) without the need to stir
complications. In my perspective, the message of the article is only clear once you reach the latter part
of the story. However, as it talks about the pandemic, the writer should have simplified his/her way of
sending the message about the vaccine, as this is a problem that is faced by the world, which involves
everyone – not just professionals, researchers or students.

The main idea of communication is to rely information and to ensure a productive and meaningful
exchange with the sender and the receiver. Such barriers greatly affect how communication works, but
if moderated – communication is the key to provide and understand ideas from one person to another.