MANILA – There is a need to conduct clinical trials on having COVID-19 booster shots, as well as on determining whether one can use different vaccine brands for the first and second doses, an official of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said Tuesday (May 18).
In an interview with the Philippine News Agency, DOST Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara said the DOST and the Department of Health both agreed these studies have to be done.
During clinical trials, Guevara said experts will use the same vaccine brand for the first and second doses and will use a different vaccine brand for the booster. Experts will also be studying the use of two different vaccine brands for the first and second doses.
“The protocol for the study is still being finalized, and will need the approval of the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). The result of the study will be reported to the Vaccine Cluster of the National Task Force against Covid-19 for appropriate action,” she said.
Guevara said the studies will start this year and may last for up to two years.
She said these studies will answer important and practical scientific questions about the Philippines’ vaccine rollout and strategy.
“Is there a combination that will yield better immunogenicity? This is among the questions that could be answered through the study,” Guevara said, adding that experts will also analyze the immune response over time.
The official said while some vaccines have been granted emergency use authorization, experts do not know yet how long the protection from these vaccines will last.
When asked if using two different brands would not be costly for the government since it has already procured two doses of the same brand for each recipient, Guevara said, “we are looking at efficacy and safety, rather than cost.”
She said the study will also determine how the government could minimize the impact of any potential delivery delays.
Earlier in a forum, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the government is currently looking for funds for these studies.
Having a booster shot could help strengthen one’s immune response to the virus, while the study on using two different vaccine brands would see if an immune response could still be produced, Vergeire said. (PNA) -jlo
