There should be a timeline in the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination process, Senator Richard J, Gordon, chairman and CEO of Philippine Red Cross (PRC), said Monday.
Gordon said the vaccination program should be systematic because the government has limited funding which should be used wisely.
‘’We must have enough doctors and health workers to vaccinate the target number of Filipinos. The DOH (Department of Health) does not have a sterling vaccination record as it is. We need to vaccinate 60-70 percent of the country to be able to have herd immunity,’’ he pointed out.
Before the start of the vaccination program, a seroprevalence study should be undertaken to determine whether vaccination is effective or not, he pointed out.
Gordon also said that phase 3 of the clinical trial of Sinopharm, a Chinese pharmaceutical firm, showed that its effectivity rate is 79 percent.
‘’Subalit, nang gamitin ito sa UAE, tumaas ng 86 percent ang effectivity nito. Nangangahulugan na maaari itong mabago kung ang prevalence rate ng isang lugar ay mataas,’’ he added.
(But, when it was used in the United Arab Emirates, its effectivity rate rose to 86 percent. This could still change when the prevalence rate of a certain place is high.)