By NG Seruela
The Department of Science and Technology-Vaccine Experts Panel (DOST-VEP) said the local COVID-19 vaccine mix-and-match study may begin this September.
In today’s (Sep. 1) Laging Handa public briefing, DOST-VEP fellow Dr. Nina Gloriani said the local vaccine mix-and-match may soon start this month using the COVID-19 vaccines available in the country such as Sinovac paired with other vaccines.
Gloriani said that the only data present for mix-and-matching vaccines worldwide is from Europe while there is no available data for Sinovac.
“Wala po tayong datos diyan ‘no kasi ang Sinovac ay dito sa atin area sana, sila makakapagbigay sa atin ng unang data ‘no. Ang data that we have for mix-and-match, itong for heterologous ang tawag natin diyan na vaccines na ibibigay ay nasa Europe: nasa Astra-Pfizer, Astra-Moderna, Astra-Novavax, Astra-Janssen ‘no. Ang Sinovac ay wala pa tayong data na kapag binigay iyong another vaccine platform or another brand ay maganda iyong resulta or kung safe.”
In relation to this, DOST Undersecretary Rowena Guevara initially disclosed that 3,000 individuals are expected to participate in the trials at their proposed sites in Manila, Pasig, Antipolo, Marikina, Makati, Pasay, Quezon City, Muntinlupa, Cebu City, and Davao City.
“Para masiguro ang consistency at uniformity sa trial, ang ilalahok lamang ay ang mga hindi pa nabibigyan ng COVID-19 na bakuna,” she said, adding that the trial will use vaccines available in the Philippines. – bny
READ MORE: DOST prepares for vaccine mix-and-match trials
