Vax shortage in PH cause of low-rank in COVID-19 resiliency: DOH

By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz / PNA

MANILA – The low rate of vaccination and unavailability of vaccines against COVID-19 are among the major factors for the Philippines’ poor ranking in COVID-19 resiliency, according to an official of the Department of Health (DOH) on Friday (July 2).

In a virtual presser, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said many factors contributing to the country’s vaccination drive are out of its control, noting the global scarcity in COVID-19 vaccines caused by “competition across different countries”.

“Naka-depende po ang ating supplies sa ating mga napag-kasunduang agreements with the manufacturers where there is a global shortage,” Vergeire said. 

Another factor to consider, she said, was the different settings or capabilities of other countries, especially high-income countries with “mature” health systems.

“’Pag tinignan po natin, ihahambing tayo sa mga high-income countries, tayo ay may health system na different from them, so ito pong mga ganitong factors ay kailangan nakikita rin po natin,” Vergeire said.

She noted that the resilience report also combined positive with negative indicators based on the DOH’s initial analysis.

“Pinagsama-sama lahat ng indicators but some of these indicators should be taken na parang negative indicator. Mas mababa kayo, mas okay para sa atin,” Vergeire said.

Despite the low rank, she said the Philippines remains open to these rankings especially to help improve the country’s COVID-19 measures.

On Monday, Bloomberg released its COVID-19 resilience ranking which showed the Philippines ranking 52nd out of 53 countries. 

In response, DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said most of the parameters used in the report were “skewed” to a high vaccination rate and was “unfair” since richer countries have secured “80 percent of the global supply of vaccines.” -rir