By Pearl Gumapos
National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 medical adviser Dr. Ted Herbosa on Wednesday (Feb. 2) said vaccine manufacturing and the establishment of the country’s own virology institute is part of national security.
“So nakita natin na part of national security ang mayroon tayong sariling virology institute at vaccine manufacturing,” Herbosa said during the Laging Handa public briefing.
“Very important talaga na ma-institutionalize ang pagtayo ng isang virology center dahil iyong manpower, mga scientist, iyong mga virologist ay makakatulong hindi lang sa human diseases pati sa plant and animal diseases,” he said.
According to Herbosa, the country once had a hand at vaccine development that was sold to the private sector.
“We had vaccine development even in the past. Ang problema ay noong binenta iyon sa private sector, hindi tayo nagtayo ng ating sariling vaccine institute. Nakita natin iyong hirap nitong panahon ng pandemya,” Herbosa said.
“During the pandemic itself, nahirapan tayong mag-source ng vaccines because the vaccines na prino-produce ng ibang countries ay ginagamit din nila so hindi pa nila ma-ibenta at ma-export sa atin,” Herbosa said. -rir
