By NG Seruela
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) announced that the Philippines and the World Health Organization (WHO) signed the agreement for the WHO solidarity vaccine trial in the country.
In a Laging Handa public briefing on Tuesday (July 13), DOST Undersecretary Rowena Guevara said that Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and WHO Chief Scientist, Soumya Swaminathan have signed the agreement where the Philippines will discover the most effective COVID-19 vaccine for the Filipino population.
“Nagpirmahan na ng letter of agreement si Secretary Duque, representative ng Philippine government, at saka po iyong WHO Chief Scientist, Soumya Swaminathan. Sinasabi po dito na makakadiskubre tayo ng pinaka-epektibong COVID-19 vaccines na naaayon sa pangangailangan ng Filipino population na may epektibong bilang ng doses, may nilalaang [tagal ng] panahon ng proteksiyon, at madaling i-administer at i-manufacture sa ating bansa,” she explained.
Guevara added that the WHO has given its final clinical trial protocol, standard operating procedures, and four investigational brochures of the vaccines to be studied in the trial. The solidarity vaccine trial team has also submitted needed documents to the vaccine experts panel for evaluation while the ethics review is handled by the single joint research ethic board and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees the regulatory review.
In relation to this, Guevara assured that the clinical trial will not affect the global scarcity of the vaccine supply.
“Iyon pong clinical trials kasi ay mga Phase 2 at saka Phase 3 kagaya po ng sa solidarity vaccine trial natin at privately funded po iyong mga trials na iba. Ang mga ito ay hindi pa pupwedeng gamitin talaga sa national vaccination program dahil hindi pa po sila pumapasa sa ating tinatawag na Phase 3 na satisfactory results,” she said.
“Kapag ang mga bagong bakuna ay pumasa na sa Phase 3 na may satisfactory result, maaari na po silang isama sa pagpipilian ng Pilipinas at ibang bansa sa pag-deploy para sa kani-kanilang vaccination programs. Pero itong mga nasa clinical trials, hindi po makakaapekto sa global scarcity ng vaccine supply,” she added. – rir
