Despite absence of clinical trials in PH, gov’t to still buy COVID-19 vaccines — DOH

FILE PHOTO: Small bottles labeled with “Vaccine” stickers stand near a medical syringe in front of displayed “Coronavirus COVID-19” words in this illustration taken April 10, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

MANILA, Philippines — The government will still consider buying vaccines from manufactures that do not conduct clinical trials in the Philippines as long as they go through the country’s regulatory process and will be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday.

DOH Undersecretary and spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said this in light of Moderna’s latest announcement that its experimental vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was shown to have a 94.5 percent effectivity based on results from a clinical trial where more than 30,000 people participated.

Moderna, however, decided not to conduct clinical trials of its vaccine here in the country, Vergeire said.

“Ang Moderna nakausap na sila ng Department of Science and Technology about a month ago and ang kanilang talagang intent is not to have a clinical trial in the Philippines but they would want na dun na sila papasok sa vaccine procurement,” Vergeire told reporters.

(Moderna talked with the Department of Science and Technology about a month ago, and their intent was not to have a clinical trial in the Philippines, but they would want to be part of the vaccine procurement.)

Despite Moderna’s decision, Vergeire said that it would not stop the government from procuring its vaccines.

“If the manufacturer will not conduct a clinical trial here in the country, hindi po ‘yan makaka-apekto sa pagpili natin,” Vergeire told reporters. “Although of course, that is the idea that na gusto rin sana natin.”

(If the manufacturer will not conduct a clinical trial in here in the country, it won’t affect our selection. Although of course, that’s the idea that we want.)

“But if they do not intend, hindi po naman makakapag-stop sa gobyerno para mag-procure tayo as long as they will go through the regulatory process, at makikita po natin ang mga epekto ng kanilang Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3, mae-evaluate po ng ating mga experts sa bakuna at makakapasok po at maaprubahan ang ating Food and Drug administration, and then we can readily procure this set of vaccines,” she added.

(But if they do not intend, it won’t stop the government from procuring as long as they will go through the regulatory process, and we will see the effect of Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3, this will be evaluated by our vaccines experts and if this passes the Food and Drug Administration, then we can readily procure this set of vaccines.)

As of Nov. 18, the Philippines has 410,718 COVID-19 cases, with 374,543 recoveries and 7,862 deaths.

/MUF