The World Health Organization (WHO)-led clinical trials for candidate vaccines against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country could start by the end of October, the Department of Health (DOH) said.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that WHO has already informed the country’s sub-technical working group for vaccine development on the timeline for this global initiative.
Vergeire said that in the third to fourth week of September, the WHO is set to identify the candidate vaccines that will be included in the “solidarity” trial.
“Sa ngayon kasi may mga pinagpipilian sila na listahan which are about 34 na mga bakuna na pinagpipilian. Of course they will be reducing this, kung ano lang ang karapat dapat iyon ang isasama nila ,” she said.
By the end of this month, the WHO team will identify sites where the trials will be conducted.
Vergeire said that they will coordinate first with the local government officials and other stakeholders with regards to the start of the trial.
“Alam natin this is voluntary so kailangan may mga informed consent din tayong kukunin. If they would be refusing. So 'yun ang ating pag-usapan with the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) ,” she said.
“Kailangan ma engage muna natin ang community. Kailangan makausap natin ang officials ng local government, maipaliwanag natin sa kanila …We can explain to them the advantages and the adverse effects of these specific vaccines bago natin umpisahan ito ,” she added.
The DOH, however, noted that the timeline is still subject to change “depending on several factors and it is the WHO that will determine adjustments and changes.”
In a related development, the country’s vaccine experts panel is still in talks with other vaccine developers.
“As to the Gamaleya Institute (of Russia), itong Sputnik V, they have already submitted their documents to us. We were able to review it, the vaccine experts panel-- at ipinasa na rin natin sa kanila ang ating mga komento . So we are just awaiting for response doon sa mga komento ng ating vaccine experts panel,” said Vergeire.
“As to the other vaccines, everything is under negotiation,” she added.