Sinovac’s 50% efficacy is better than nothing, says Vergeire

DOH Usec. Maria Rosario Vergeire, FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Tuesday said the Sinovac vaccines’ 50-percent efficacy for mild cases is “better than nothing” in view of studies that the South African variant of the disease can diminish the vaccine’s ability to prevent an illness.

“Ako tingin ko, and this is my opinion, 50 percent efficacy is better than nothing. This is for mild disease pero ‘yung 100 percent na ‘di na ako maoospital, ‘di na ako natatakot araw-araw ‘pag ako pumapasok sa trabaho na hindi magkakasakit o ma-ICU [intensive care unit] that is so much for me already,” Vergeire said in an online conference, in reaction to concerns that Sinovac vaccines diminishing effects against Covid-19 for those infected with the B.1.351 variant.

(In my opinion, 50 percent is better than nothing. This is for mild disease but the 100 percent prevention against fatal reactions that I will not be hospitalized, that I will not be infected when going to work, that is so much for me already.)

“’Yung bakuna bumababa man ang efficacy, base sa pag-aaral ng ibang bansa, nandyan pa rin naman, hindi naman sinabing wala talagang bisa ang bakuna so ibibigay pa rin ang bakuna kahit may ganitong ebidensya,” she added.

(The vaccines, even if its efficacy gets low, does not mean it is not totally effective anymore so we will give the vaccines despite these kinds of evidence.)

She also stressed that strict compliance for health protocols, not only vaccines, will be effective in preventing infection from Covid-19 variants.

“Tuloy tuloy pa rin ang mininum public health standards lalong lalo na ngayon na may variants na nade-detect [Minimum public health standards continues especially now that we detect more variants],” she said.

Donated Sinovac vaccine doses were the first to be rolled out during the launching of the country’s immunization program against Covid-19 on Monday.

The Sinovac company said its vaccines can be used for health workers even with an efficacy rate of above 50 percent.

The China-made vaccines can also provide 100 percent efficacy on fatal cases and even for moderate cases that need medical assistance.”

Earlier, the health department discovered the first cases of South African variants in the country. Six cases were mostly local cases in Pasay City.

JPV