1. ANTHONY G. ESGUERRA - Graduate School of Business, Ph.D. student, University of the Visayas, Cebu, Philippines.
2. VICTORINA H. ZOSA - Center for Research and Innovation, Executive Research Director, Faculty of Graduate School of
Business, University of the Visayas, Cebu, Philippines.
3. ROSEMARIE C. ESPAÑOL DM - College of Business Administration, Dean, Graduate School of Business and College of Business
Administration, University of the Visayas, Cebu, Philippines.
Trade is a fundamental economic activity that involves the exchange of commodities and services between countries with mutual economic interests through imports and exports. The study examined the value of trade in vaccine acquisition in the ASEAN region. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused major challenges in the world due to the health threat it caused to the community and the suspension of the majority of the world’s activities. The study utilized a descriptive quantitative method utilizing secondary data from different reliable sources such as the ASEAN Statistical reports and WHO, focusing on the identified indicators namely, Covid- 19 cases, ASEAN trade by goods, vaccination rate, and vaccination sources. This study provides insights into how the trade partnership may have affected the acquisition of the COVID-19 vaccines. The study concluded that the inability of most of the countries in the ASEAN to produce COVID-19 vaccines can be attributed to the priorities in research and development which is important in today’s societal development and survival. Further research may be required to provide direct measures using other indicators to extrapolate the role of trade in vaccine facilitation.
Value of Trade, COVID-19 Vaccination, ASEAN.