US veterans in the Philippines in coronavirus vaccine limbo

U.S. veterans living in the Philippines petitioned for access to the coronavirus vaccine through Veterans Affairs clinics in that country. The vaccine, seen here Dec. 28, 2020, at Yokota Air Base, Japan, is available now in limited quantities to essential personnel.
THERON GODBOLD/STARS AND STRIPES


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A group of U.S. military veterans in the Philippines say they’ve been left in limbo by the Department of Veterans Affairs, which will only offer the coronavirus vaccine there to its staff and veterans receiving treatment at its clinic in Manila.

Representatives of veteran and retiree organizations in the Philippines wrote to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on behalf of 30,000 veterans living in the Philippines, outlining their concerns about the U.S. government’s vaccination plan.

The Philippines has reported nearly 470,000 coronavirus cases with over 9,000 deaths, Nikkei Asia reported Sunday.

Story Credits:

SETH ROBSON | STARS AND STRIPES

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