The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said Friday, Nov. 26, that more than 3,000 participants of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Solidarity Trial for Vaccines in the country have already received their first dose of jabs against coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña said as of Nov. 19, a total of 3,040 participants have been inoculated with the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and that the recruitment of participants for the WHO STV is still ongoing.
He added that 705 participants have already completed the two-dose schedule.
“As of November 19, 2021, five hospitals are already involved plus two community-based sites. They have a total of 3,040 participants vaccinated with first dose and 705 participants already completed the two-dose schedule,” de la Peña said during his weekly report on Friday.
Included in the list of trial sites were the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP), and the Makati Medical Center (MMC).
In a radio interview late October, De la Peña said so far, no adverse effects have been observed in the participants of WHO SVT.
The Solidarity Trials for Vaccines organized by the WHO recruited its first volunteer on Sept. 30.
The Philippines is one of three countries in the world where the Solidarity Trial for Vaccines was launched.
The two other participating countries are Columbia and Mali.
“The Philippines is committed to be one of the initial countries participating in the Solidarity Trial for Vaccines,” de la Peña said.
He said a number of new vaccines using innovative platforms will be included in the trial.