National Task Force against COVID-19 Chief Implementer and Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. announced that the government aims to secure 25 million doses of the vaccine being developed by Sinovac.
The Palace asserted the government’s plan despite the fact that the Chinese pharmaceutical company has not yet conducted a Phase 3 clinical trial of its vaccine in the Philippines and has yet to secure an Emergency Use Authorization to show that its vaccine is safe and effective.
“Ang dahilan kung bakit kumukuha tayo ng Sinovac kasi sila lamang ang magbibigay ng supply sa lalong mabilis na panahon…Hindi naman po natin bibilhin ‘yan kung hindi sasabihin ng FDA na ito’y ligtas at ito po ay epektibo (The reason why we are securing Sinovac [vaccines] is that they are the only ones that can provide a supply as soon as possible…We will not make the purchase if the FDA will not say that it’s safe and effective),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque disclosed.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently evaluating Sinovac after it passed the standards of the Vaccine Experts Panel and Ethics Review Board.
The FDA stated that the said vaccine’s clinical trial is expected to be conducted in January 2021 along with Clover.
FDA Director General Eric Domingo assured that the evaluation of Sinovac will be fair. Following the issue of bribery to rush the approval of its developing vaccine for SARS and Swine Flu, Domingo asserted that the evaluation will be “very objective” and will be based on data and evidence.
“Dito po sa Pilipinas, huwag po nilang susubukang manuhol dahil magkakaproblema po sila (They should not attempt to bribe in the Philippines because we will then have a problem.)” Domingo added. – Report from Mark Fetalco
