MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is not solely relying on Russia for a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as it has already engaged at least 16 vaccine makers worldwide, the Department of Health (DOH) said Friday.
“We already have about 16 vaccine manufacturers na may different stages na tayo ng pakikipag-usap. Ito ay through our bilateral partners,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in an online media forum.
The Philippines will conduct Phase 3 of clinical trials of Russia’s Sputnik-V vaccine from October 2020 to March 2021.
The human testing phase will be funded by the Russian government and will be done simultaneously in Manila and Moscow.
READ: Phase 3 clinical trials of Russian COVID-19 vaccine in PH set from Oct. 2020 to March 2021
Aside from this, the country also joined COVAX Facility, a mechanism designed to guarantee rapid, fair, and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines worldwide.
The Philippines is likewise part of the World Health Organization’s Solidarity Trial for different COVID-19 treatment.
“All of these are being explored. Lahat ng pwedeng maging pagkakataon na makasali tayo sa clinical trials nila ay ineexplore ng gobyerno. So we are not very specific na doon sa Russian vaccine lang. Tinitignan at mina-mapa natin lahat ng meron sa buong mundo na magbebenefit sa ating mga kababayan,” Vergeire said.