Philippines expressed interest to buy COVID-19 vaccine being developed by Oxford University -envoy
Published June 19, 2020 3:19pm; Updated June 19, 2020 5:21pm
The Philippines has expressed interest in the COVID-19 vaccine being developed by Oxford University in the United Kingdom, Manila’s Ambassador to London Antonio Lagdameo said Friday.
“Nagpaabot na ng kanilang interes ang ating pamahalaan na baka bumili ng mga vaccine na ito kung ito ay mapatunayang ligtas at mabisa,” Lagdameo said at a televised briefing.
Lagdameo’s statement comes after pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca agreed to supply Europe with up to 400 million doses of Oxford’s COVID-19 vaccine, with deliveries starting by the end of the year.
The company also had similar agreements with the UK, United States, and other organizations.
Last month, the university announced the start of phase 2/3 clinical trial of the Oxford vaccine AZD1222 involving some 10,000 people in the UK.
“The clinical studies are progressing very well and we are now initiating studies to evaluate how well the vaccine induces immune responses in older adults, and to test whether it can provide protection in the wider population,” professor Andrew Pollard, head of the Oxford Vaccine Group, had said.
There is no cure or vaccine yet for COVID-19, which has killed 453,000 people, including at least 1,100 in the Philippines.
Lagdameo said the virus has afflicted 485 Filipinos in the UK, including 56 deaths. -MDM, GMA News
