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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOST chief pushes for local vax production

DOST chief pushes for local vax production

Published Feb 2, 2022 02:23 pm

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) highlighted the need for the country to do its own research and development on vaccines, the head of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said Wednesday, Feb. 2.

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During the Laging Handa briefing, DOST Secretary Fortunato "Boy" de la Peña expressed support for the establishment of the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines (VIP).

"Napakalaki na ng ating populasyon... Marami na ulit ang mga bakunang kailangan natin, hindi lang itong COVID-19 vaccine ang ating iniisip. Kahit itong COVID ay from endemic from pandemic category ay kakailanganin pa rin natin ng mga bakuna para rin yung bakuna natin sa flu na inuulit-ulit (Our population is already very large... We need many vaccines again, not just COVID-19 vaccines. Even if COVID-19 becomes endemic, we will still need flu vaccines)," de la Peña said.

He added that having a Virology and Vaccine Institute could also mean developing medicine and vaccines for animals.

"Titingnan nito ang iba't ibang viruses regardless of origin. Alalahanin natin na ang virus ay umaatake sa halaman, hayop, at sa mga tao. At may mga pagkakatakot na ito ay lumilipat mula hayop sa tao (It will look at different viruses regardless of origin. Let's remember that the virus attacks plants, animals, and humans. There are also viruses that transfer from animal to human)," the DOST chief said.

"Kailangan din natin ng mga serbisyo na technical service at tsaka yung tinatawag nating technology transfer activities kaya itong mga laboratory na aming ipino-propose, technical facilities, pati na rin yung training ay ilalagay natin dun sa Virology and Vaccine Institute both for human, plants, and animal virology (We also need technical services and technology transfer activities so these laboratories, technical facilities, and training that we are proposing will be included at the Virology and Vaccine Institute for humans, plants, and animals)," de la Peña added.

In 2021, President Rodrigo Duterte earlier asked Congress to enact a law creating the Center for Disease Prevention and Control and the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines.

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