(Bloomberg) -- Millions of coronavirus vaccines remain unused in the Philippines as logistical bottlenecks and hesitancy slow inoculations, health officials said, highlighting another risk to the nation's economic recovery.
More than 40 million of the 108 million vaccines the nation has received are in warehouses, in transit to the archipelago's remote islands, or waiting to be used in local health offices, according to the health department. Inoculations are hampered by “logistical bottlenecks,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque said at a virtual briefing Wednesday.
Health workers, who administer shots, were infected, while some local governments took their time with inoculations thinking it's “business as usual,” Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said at a separate briefing. Vaccine hesitancy also continues to be a roadblock, with as many as a quarter of the population doubting Covid-19 shots, she said.
Philippines Still Worst Place in Covid Even as Cases Ease Off
The Philippines, which lags much of Southeast Asia in terms of vaccine coverage, stayed at the bottom of Bloomberg's Covid Resilience Ranking last month despite decreasing infections. Even with only a quarter of the population fully vaccinated, the government has eased movement restrictions, allowing gyms and cinemas to reopen to help boost a nascent economic recovery.
The government will push local governments to quicken rollout, and will raffle off cash prizes to encourage the public to get vaccinated, Cabotaje said.
©2021 Bloomberg L.P.
Essential Business Intelligence, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice, Daily Fuel, Gold and Silver Prices and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.
