COVID-19 vaccine likely available in PH by Q2 2021 – DOST

Published Aug 19, 2020 12:26:42 PM

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 19) — A vaccine against coronavirus may be available to Filipinos by the second quarter of 2021, an official from the Department of Science and Technology said on Wednesday.

“If we are talking about the availability en masse, we believe this is going to be happening in the second quarter of next year,” said Rowena Guevara, the chair of the Sub-Technical Working Group on Vaccine Development and DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development.

She added a clinical trial on a COVID-19 vaccine is slated to start in the later part of 2020. The Philippines is in talks with Russia and at least 16 other vaccine manufacturers.

The country’s expert vaccine panel said they have yet to receive the complete records from Russia — a requirement for the Food and Drug Administration to approve holding the clinical trial for “Sputnik-V” in the country. Dr. Nina Gloriani said the Moscow-based manufacturers have only submitted a synopsis on its research.

FDA said it will not allow a Phase 3 clinical trial to be held in the Philippines if the regulatory and ethics board haven’t thoroughly reviewed the documents from Phases 1 and 2, ensuring that the vaccine will be safe.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesperson, Harry Roque, previously said the Philippines will simultaneously conduct the Phase 3 with Russia from October 2020 to March 2021. Once it has received FDA’s approval for a nationwide distribution, Duterte will be inoculated with the Sputnik-V vaccine.

The World Health Organization on Tuesday advised countries against idly waiting for a coronavirus vaccine. WHO Western Pacific Regional Director Dr. Takeshi Kasai said countries should focus on improving their COVID-19 response as there may not be enough supply of the vaccine during the initial production.

Meanwhile, DOST said it does not have a research facility for the Philippines to develop its own COVID-19 vaccine, adding it requires a huge investment. But Guevara said they are working on establishing a virology institute in the country, adding DOST already has funding for research and development, which is set to start next year.

Malacañang earlier said President Rodrigo Duterte is reviewing the recommendation to establish a Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines that will serve as premiere research institute in virology and diseases to strengthen local vaccine development in the country.

The government is also starting discussions on public-private partnerships for the local production of vaccines known as “fill and finish” after Russia presented the option.

SOURCE: https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/8/19/Philippines-COVID-19-vaccine.html