By Pearl Gumapos
The Philippine Council for Health Research and Development under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCHRD) said on Monday (Dec. 20) that the studies for the solidarity trials under the World Health Organization (WHO) will continue until the ideal vaccine is found.
“Patuloy pa rin ang pag-aaral, ang mga clinical trials kasi hindi pa po nakikita iyong ideal vaccine na gusto natin talagang mangyari. So, naghahanap pa tayo ng mga equally effective na vaccines na ang transport requirement at storage requirement ay hindi katulad doon sa mRNA,” DOST-PCHRD Executive Director Dr. Jaime Montoya said during the Laging Handa public briefing.
“Naghahanap pa rin tayo ng mga bakuna na siguro mas angkop po for particular groups. Patuloy pa po ang pag-aaral. Hangga’t wala pa pong nabibigyan ng full certificate of product registration ng ating FDA at ng ano pang FDA sa buong mundo ay patuloy pa rin ang pag-aaral,” Montoya said.
Montoya said the WHO solidarity trial in the Philippines is looking to expand to 15,000 participants.
Meanwhile, Montoya said the vaccines that currently have emergency use authorization does not prevent the infection of COVID-19. It instead prevents severe conditions, hospitalization, and death.
“Iyon pong para mag-prevent ng infection, hindi pa iyan nagagawa ng kahit ano sa mga bakuna na nabigyan ng EUA,” he said.
“Kaya nga po patuloy ang pag-aaral natin dahil hindi pa natin nakikita iyong bakuna na tinatawag na complete protection ang maibibigay. In other words, hindi lang protection against complicated disease or hospitalization or death pero protection against infection din.” -rir
