No date set yet for WHO’s COVID-19 vaccine solidarity trials in PH — DOST

MANILA, Philippines — There is no exact date yet as to when the World Health Oarganization’s solidarity trial of potential coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines will begin here in the Philippines, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato de la Peña said Friday.

In an online briefing, de la Peña reiterated that the trials are set to begin in the Americas in November while it will begin in December for other areas such as the Philippines.

However, it remains uncertain as to when exactly in December the trials will begin here.

“Hindi ko alam kung gaano kalaki ang magiging trials doon sa Americas at dito sa atin sa Pilipinas. Maaaring maiksi lang sigurong diperesya ‘yan pero definitely, wala pa silang ina-announce kung aling mga vaccines ang makakasama at kung anong protocols ang susundin,” de la Peña said.

(I do not know yet how huge the trials will be in the Americas and here in the Philippines. Maybe the time difference will be short but definitely it has yet to be announced which vaccines will be included and what protocols will be followed.)

“At wala pa ring eksaktong date sa Disyembre makakaumpisa dito,” the DOST secretary added.

(There is no exact date on December yet as to when it will begin here.)

The Department of Health (DOH) earlier announced that it will heed the call of the WHO to increase its target number of participants for the local run of the COVID-19 vaccine trials to 4,000.

According to WHO protocols, trial volunteers should be between the ages of 18 and 60 years old but those with co-morbidities and pregnant women will be excluded.

As of November 5, there are 389,725 COVID-19 cases in the country. Of this number, 349,543 have recovered while the death toll is at 7,409.

EDV