Clinical trials for vaccines against the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID) are expected to take place in the country this October, Department of Science and Technology (DoST) Secretary Fortunato de la Pena said.
“Ang mga trials siguro magsisimula ay gawing Oktubre pa at ang tapos niyan mga around six months pa,” said Dela Pena during his weekly Facebook briefing on Friday afternoon, citing estimates made by the DoST panel of experts.
“Sabihin na nating pinaka-maaga meron tayo vaccine either May, June or July next year,” he added.
De la Pena said the DoST panel of experts have chosen the Philippine General Hospital, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, and Manila Doctors Hospital as the sites of the clinical trials.
“Yung ibang gustong sumali ay makiki-affiliate na lang diyan sa mga hospital na ‘yan,” the DoST chief advised.
De la Pena said the panel, which also analyze what efficacy and safety considerations the trials should have, are at the moment identifying experts who will conduct the trials.
So far, the secretary said the Philippines has reached an agreement with Russia for the conduct of clinical trials of the the Russian-made vaccine Sputnik V.
Aside from Russia, he said the governments of China, Taiwan and the United States have also reached out for the conduct of clinical trials for their respective COVID-19 vaccines.
The secretary said the World Health Organization (WHO) will also be conducting solidarity trials for the vaccines.
“Doon sa WHO solidarity trial, naghihintay pa tayo kung alin ‘yung final list ng mga vaccines na isasama ng WHO at tiwala tayo doon kasi nga talagang maraming bansa ang nag-i-screen collectively,” he said. (Jeffrey Damicog)