Prognosis
Philippine Covid Shot Mandate Sees Millions Facing Test Fees
- Only a third of essential workers vaccinated as of November
- Access to shots is poor outside of metropolitan Manila area
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Millions of Filipinos face having to pay for their own Covid-19 tests as a new rule mandating vaccines in workplaces comes into force, even as essential workers in some parts of the country struggle to access shots.
As of Wednesday, businesses will require employees entering offices to factories to be inoculated against the virus. The rule is being enacted despite the Southeast Asian nation having one of the lowest vaccination rates among major economies, with just 41% of the population inoculated.