DOST: Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Cebu eyed as trial zones for COVID-19 vaccine

MANILA, Philippines — Select areas in Metro Manila, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) and Cebu are being eyed as zones for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine clinical trials, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said Thursday.

In a televised briefing, DOST Secretary Fortunato Dela Peña said six barangays will come from Metro Manila while Calabarzon and Cebu will have one barangay each participating in the trials.

“Ang pinipili kasing lugar ay yung mataas ang incidence ng COVID-19. So yung mga barangay na naroroon o malapit doon, usually it will require 5 to 10 barangays for a trial. Ang pipiliin niya ay yung mga lugar na mataas ang COVID-19 cases,” Dela Peña said.

(The areas chosen are those with a high incidence of COVID-19. Usually, it will require 5 to 10 barangays for a trial. Areas chosen have high COVID-19 cases.)

PH barangays with highest COVID cases to join ‘WHO Solidarity Trials’

Dela Peña added that the zones will be prioritized for the World Health Organization Solidarity trials where some 1,000 volunteers are expected to join.

“Sa WHO, mas kokonti ang kailangang volunteers because I think there are 80 other countries who will be doing it,” he said.

Earlier, DOST said clinical trials for various COVID-19 vaccines will most likely start by the fourth quarter of 2020.

/MUF