Cavite residents to take part in field trials of COVID-19 vaccines

MANILA, Philippines — Over 10,000 residents of Cavite will participate in the field trials of two pharmaceutical giants from the United States and the United Kingdom for a possible vaccine against the coronavirus disease, Governor Jonvic Remulla announced Thursday.

“Ang Cavite ay malapit na sumailalim sa Phase 3 field trial ng dalawang kilalang pharmaceutical giant. Kasama sa pag-aaral ay ang mahigit sa 10,000 volunteer recipients ng experimental vaccine,” Remulla said in a statement.

(Some Cavite residents will soon undergo phase 3 field trial from three known pharmaceutical giants. Over 10,000 volunteer recipients of the experimental vaccine will participate.)

In a text message to reporters, Remulla said the two pharmaceutical giants are from the US and UK, but claimed the agreements are yet to be finalized and signed next week.

In the trial to be conducted, 5,000 volunteers will receive the vaccine shots while the other 5,000 will get placebo treatment.

“Ang ibig sabihin po ng placebo, ang matatanggap ng kalahati ay walang therapeutic effect. Ito ay standard protocol sa lahat ng clinical trials na ginagawa sa buong mundo,” said the governor.

(It means half of them will receive vaccines that do not have therapeutic effects. This is a standard protocol in all clinical trials conducted around the world.)

“Ito din ay bahagi sa 100,000 sample size na parte ng pangatlong level ng pagsusuri sa epekto ng bakuna,” he added.

(This is also part of the 100,000 sample size in the third phase of test for the effectiveness of the vaccine.)

Remulla assured that the vaccines will undergo intense scrutiny by the scientific community to determine its effectiveness.

Meanwhile, Remulla also aired concern over the Russian vaccine which President Vladimir Putin announced was the first approved vaccine for COVID-19 even as it has yet to finish the last stage of test.

“As far as I know, the Russian data is UNAVAILABLE; their methodology is NOT open; and its efficacy has not been subject to a review and analysis,” said Remulla.

He then advised the Department of Health to safeguard the process of review, approval, and appropriation of COVID-19 vaccines.

“There is no bigger decision than choosing a clinically tested and effective vaccine, at the correct time, at the fair price,” he pointed out.

EDV