The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) urged Saturday, Feb. 13, the concerned localities to support the World Health Organization (WHO) Solidarity Trial for COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease) vaccine and other similar vaccine trials as the country intensifies its fight against the virus.
In a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the DILG and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) on the zoning and implementation of COVID-19 vaccine trials, all Metro Manila cities, the municipality of Pateros, Davao City, Cebu province and Cavite province were identified as areas of implementation for the vaccine trials.
DILG Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan E. Malaya explained that the vaccine recipients under the WHO Solidarity Trial will be recruited from the top five to 10 barangays with high COVID-19 cases identified by the Department of Health - Bureau of Epidemiology (DOH-EB).
He said the coordination with LGUs especially at the barangay level is vital in the success of the vaccine clinical trials.
“We need the full support of our LGUs since trial sites will be at the barangay level and randomization will be by households. The household census will also be obtained from the barangays to ensure follow up,” Malaya said.
Independent clinical trials by private vaccine companies may also be assigned trial zones where they are equally and rationally distributed to avoid competition in subject recruitment according to the DILG.
Malaya clarified that the vaccine solidarity trials are different from the national vaccination program saying that “the trials are for candidate vaccines to test their efficacy and safety while the national vaccination program are for FDA (Food and Drug Administration)-approved vaccines already.’’
“Some 15,000 volunteers aged 18-59 years will be involved in the country’s WHO solidarity trials. It is a global effort to evaluate the safety and efficacy of candidate vaccines which are not yet approved by the FDA,’’ the DILG noted.
In DILG memorandum circular (MC) No. 2021-011, DILG officer-in-charge (OIC) Bernardo C. Florece Jr. enjoined the identified LGUs to provide logistic support or other non-monetary assistance needed by the Project Teams through transportation of potential participants to the trial sites for screening, vaccination, and scheduled follow-up visit.
In the same directive, the LGUs are also enjoined to assist in locating participants who do not come to the trial site for the scheduled visit and bringing participants to the hospital site in the event of an exposure to or presentation of signs and symptoms of COVID-19 or the development of adverse reactions.
The LGUs are encouraged to assist in coordination with the Project Team in organizing meetings related to the clinical trials such as the orientation of potential participants.
For monitoring purposes, all concerned DILG Regional Offices are directed to submit monthly situation reports regarding the implementation of the COVID-19 vaccine trials in their respective areas of jurisdiction to the DILG Central Office through the Bureau of Local Government Development.