Gaps of the COVID-19 Vaccination Program in Selected Sites in Mindanao, Philippines

Access to health products in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) continues to be a challenge.1 Despite availability, challenges in affordability, allocation, and deployment pose hurdles in ensuring equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccines.2 Following the receipt of 600,000 Sinovac vaccines, the Philippines began its vaccine rollout on 1 March 2021.3 As of 11 January 2022, only 48.45% of the country’s population are fully vaccinated.4 For a vaccine program to be successful, it is crucial to invest not just in vaccines but in the program as a whole. This study aimed to identify main COVID-19 vaccine implementation gaps across four study sites in Mindanao, Philippines under The Asia Foundation’s CONVERGE program (Radjah Buayan, Maguindanao; Maluso, Basilan; Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay; Zamboanga City) by interviewing health officers, healthcare workers (HCWs), and community representatives.