World Bank, ADB fund Philippines' vaccine drive

A total of 4.73 million coronavirus vaccine doses procured under a World Bank loan have arrived in the Philippines.

The World Bank has approved an additional $500-million facility to procure over eight million more doses by year's end, bringing the total to about 13 million doses.

In addition to vaccines, the project supports public health measures such as testing and isolation capacity improvements.

Over 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines and medical supplies have been procured through an Asian Development Bank (ADB) loan under the DOH's HEAL COVID-19 Project.

The ADB has lauded the Health Department for a 70% obligation rate of its $825 million total loan budget intended for vaccine procurement and ancillaries.