Don't trade us for vaccines: Filipino nurses

A possible plan by the Filipino government of the Philippines to send nurses abroad in exchange for vaccines... isn't going down well with some of those nurses.

A senior official said on Tuesday (February 23) that the country will let thousands of its healthcare workers, mostly nurses, take up jobs in Britain and Germany if the two countries agree to donate coronavirus vaccines.

Melbert Reyes is president of the Philippines Nurses Association:

“When we first read and heard about it we were saddened and we were hurt. It is as if we are like an object that can be traded for the vaccines, it's as if we are commodities."

The Philippines has among Asia's highest number of coronavirus cases.

It also currently limits the number of medical professionals leaving the country to 5,000 a year, but is now willing to lift that cap.

Filipino nurses have fought to lift the deployment ban to escape poor working conditions and low pay at home.

"We hope our government officials will see our worth as part of the healthcare team and institution that takes care of each and every Filipino in our country."

Britain's health ministry said it was not interested in such a deal and its priority was to use shots domestically.

But added that it would share surplus vaccines internationally in the future.

Germany has not responded.