Aside from Sputnik V, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine being developed by Russia, China’s version being developed and manufactured by Sinovac Biotech is being considered to undergo clinical trial in the Philippines.
According to Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, five hospitals are being eyed to join the Phase 3 clinical trial of Sinovac’s vaccine including the Philippine General Hospital, San Lazaro Hospital, Manila Doctors Hospital, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.
DOH USec. Vergeire has stated that negotiation on the said vaccine is still ongoing. However, several confidential disclosure agreements have been finalized and submitted. The documents are being reviewed by the vaccine expert panel.
Meanwhile, the DOH has warned against the use of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin Vaccine, (BCG) medicine for tuberculosis, since it is still not approved as prevention for COVID-19.
“Sa ngayon wala pa hong sapat na (For now, there is no enough) evidence that would say that BCG can have this good effect for COVID-19. So let us just wait for adequate evidence, scientific evidence at that, let us wait for the results of the studies being undertaken in other countries so that we will be properly informed.”
The Health department has also reiterated that publicizing the names of COVID-19 patient is prohibited. The department added that discrimination against COVID-19 patients must stop.
Meanwhile, the DOH has reported a total of 220,819 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 157, 562 recoveries and 3, 558 deaths nationwide as of August 31, 2020. – Report from Sandra Samala
