The British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has been discovered to have a higher efficacy rate on those who received a lower dose compared to those who have completed the dosing regimen.
Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) Executive Director Jaime Montoya disclosed that the company is “presently evaluating and analyzing where the errors were and why this happened, but we do not foresee that it will have any effect on the efficacy. It’s just a question of numbers and the basis for such numbers.”
Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire stated that the error will only be verified once AstraZeneca submits an official document to the vaccine experts panel.
“We need to be officially informed by the manufacturer because they have that responsibility because they were able to submit already their application to the country.”
However, Dr. Montoya said that it will not affect its plan to conduct clinical trial in the country.
National Task Force against COVID-19 Chief Implementer and Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez initially disclosed that AstraZeneca will allot around 2 million vaccines for the Philippines under the agreement between the PH government and the vaccine developer.
Report from Mark Fetalco
