Vaccine wastage in the Philippines: An examination of the contributory factors

Abstract

Abstract The global introduction of COVID‐19 vaccines provided relief to the burden inflicted by the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus. However, reports of vaccine wastage are still apparent in some countries, particularly in the Philippines. This paper examines the phenomenon of vaccine wastage with emphasis on factors related to improper storage and distribution and on vaccine hesitancy whose roots may be traced to a controversial vaccine rollout. The discussion elaborates on the following themes: (a) supply chain management, (b) limited health literacy, and (c) the unintended consequences of vaccine hesitancy. This paper asserts that addressing the problem of vaccine wastage may involve public‐private partnerships that are grounded in good governance and transparency. In addition, combatting disinformation may entail collaborative communication strategies that may tap into the valuable contributions of the health/natural sciences and the humanities.

Keywords

• COVID‐19
• disinformation
• health literacy
• public–private partnerships
• vaccine hesitancy
• vaccine wastage