Some necessary parameters in the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine in the country have already been established in the Philippines, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
WHO Country Representative Dr. Socorro Escalante enumerated on Wednesday the criteria on vaccine readiness of a country including a national vaccine deployment plan which the Philippines already has, and regulatory readiness in accepting vaccine applications.
“The President has signed the Executive Order authorizing the FDA to grant EUA for vaccines and also to rely or recognize assessment of these vaccines from other stringent regulatory authorities. That is a very important step that makes the country ready,” Escalante explained.
Also included in the parameters of country readiness are preparedness concerning cold chain facility and safety monitoring amid the possible adverse effects of a new vaccine.
“In short, there are some aspects that are very important for vaccine readiness which the Philippines has already put in place,” she stated.
The WHO emphasized that the public should understand the measures of the government, particularly the distribution of vaccines in case they become available in the country.
Medical frontliners should be prioritized in the distribution to ensure services of the country’s healthcare system, followed by the sick and vulnerable.
Meanwhile, the WHO reported that there are already “232 candidate vaccines that are being developed, 172 of which are in the pre-clinical stage, and 60 are already in the phase of clinical trial.”
Ten of the vaccines under clinical trial phase have already been granted “conditional approval” or EUA worldwide, while one vaccine has been granted emergency use listing by the WHO. – Report from Kenneth Paciente, PTV News Online
