The COVID-19 vaccine developed by Chinese firm Sinovac Biotech will be used in a "specific sector" during the conduct of its clinical trials in the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) said.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the Phase 3 clinical trials for Sinovac's COVID-19 vaccine will still push through even though it is already applying for an emergency use authorization in the Philippines.
On Tuesday, January 19, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Sinovac's clinical trial application for its COVID-19 vaccine.
"There is a specific population na gustong i-try dito para sa Sinovac i just cannot disclose it yet kasi yung protocol is with the DOST (Department of Science and Technology)," said Vergeire.
“Ang intensyon natin kaya gusto nating matuloy iyan kahit na nag-aaply na siya ng EUA because we want to try it in this specific population para makita natin ang epekto niya among us, Asians and this specific group of population ,” she furthered.
Aside from Sinovac, the FDA previously approved the clinical trial of China’s Clover Pharmaceuticals and Belgium-based Janssen Pharmaceuticals.
WHO Solidarity trials for Vaccines
The World Health Organization (WHO), meanwhile, has yet to announce the official start of its Solidarity Trial for Vaccines IN which the Philippines will be participating.
“Hanggang sa ngayon, wala pang binibigay ang WHO as to the protocol and as to the specific date and the type of vaccine that they will use. Nakiusap sila noon na let them be the first one to announce about the details of this clinical trial ,” said Vergeire.
“While we wait for them to announce the details of this solidarity trial .... We are already preparing sites and we are trying to see how we can be able to recruit these 15,000 participants across these areas, “ she added.