Concerns over Chinese firm conducting trial for vaccine against COVID-19 in Cebu City
CEBU CITY—A councilor has raised concerns over the presence of a Chinese firm, which is allegedly conducting a clinical trial for a vaccine against COVID-19 in this city.
According to Councilor David Tumulak, representatives of WestVac Biopharma R&D from Sichuan in China do not have the authority from the city government to hold clinical trials here.
In his privilege speech during the city council session Wednesday, Tumulak urged the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Health, and the City Health Department to investigate the matter.
“We received information that some individuals in Cebu City’s coastal villages underwent a clinical trial and were given a pay whenever they passed the screening,” he said.
Tumulak expressed fears that the clinical trials would expose residents to danger.
“I have not even heard about this vaccine,” he said.
Based on a vaccination slip he got, Tumulak said some residents were injected with WestVac Biopharma R&D’s vaccine in a Cebu City hospital, which he refused to identify.
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