‘I was scared’: Albertan who once believed COVID vax misinfo changes tune

EDMONTON – An Alberta man who was previously hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine is now urging others to get it after he ended up infected with the virus.

Sabear El-Rafih, 30, says he believed the misinformation he saw on social media and that’s why he didn’t go get the shot when he was eligible for it.

“Lots of people are saying that the vaccine is population control… I was scared,” he explained in a clip shared to Alberta Health Services’ Twitter. “I waited and I waited and I waited.”

Sabear, 30, says he believed false info he saw on social media. “That's why I never got the vaccine. I was scared.” Then he landed in the ICU w/ COVID-19. “I want to tell people that having COVID is probably the scariest thing you'll go through. It's not a joke. Get the vaccine.” pic.twitter.com/L78tH6x0Xb

— Alberta Health Services (@AHS_media) October 12, 2021

He became sick with the virus. His symptoms were bad enough to land him in the ICU.

“It’s like a hurricane of symptoms. Within 24 hours I had so much pneumonia in my body that it could’ve killed me,” he shared.

“And when I came [to the hospital], they were talking about putting me under, paralyzing me, sedating me, you know, and I started to cry.”

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The father of two says in those moments, he feared for his life and for his family.

“Having COVID is probably the scariest thing you’ll ever do or ever go through. It’s not a joke,” he said, urging people who were hesitant like him and are hesitant to get the vaccine.

“Get the vaccine. Get it done, because I’d rather get sick for two days than die in a hospital bed.”

The AHS clip shows El-Rafih getting his first dose of the vaccine.

“Now I want to tell people that there’s nothing to be scared of,” he said.