When-will-we-be-a-Vaccine-Nation

First used this title for my December 26 column, and it looks like the situation has cleared up only to a small degree, while simultaneously also getting murkier.

- PHILIP CU UNJIENG

HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPE-VINE: OUR NEW ABNORMAL XXV

First used this title for my December 26 column, and it looks like the situation has cleared up only to a small degree, while simultaneously also getting murkier. So are we in terrible shape in contrast with other countries in our ASEAN region? When it comes to our near-future vaccine program, do we chalk it up to the fact that we’re just not a “rich nation”, as some spokesperson would have us believe? Is it simply a case of beggars can’t be choosers? Is there truly a thriving Filipino “black market” centered on smuggled, overpriced doses of the vaccine? And when is there real light at the end of this COVID-tunnel?

Last week, with the Department of Health report of 1,895 new COVID cases, we breached the 500,000 mark; with a 550,557 total of confirmed COVID cases, and with 9,978 deaths. This all adds up to the second highest in Southeast Asia. This was the dismal snapshot of our COVID situation as of January 20, 2021. Sure it pales in comparison to what is happening in the US of A, or the second wave that sprung up in some European countries. But for this part of the world, it’s not exactly an enviable track record when put alongside such developing nations as Vietnam – which actually shares a border with China. There, they can say there have only been 1,539 cases, and 35 COVIDrelated deaths.