BY ARGYLL GEDUCOS
President Duterte has allowed the emergency use of COVID-19 vaccines in the country, the same practice that is being observed in China and soon in the United States, two countries that are already in the advanced stage of developing the vaccine against the said respiratory illness.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the announcement following reports that the vaccine being developed by Pfizer is 95 percent effective against COVID-19.
In his Thursday presser, Roque said that President Duterte will soon issue an executive order (EO), through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), that will authorize the emergency use of vaccines as long as these were already approved by the FDA in their respective countries of origin.
“Hindi pa po nalalabas ni Presidente ang Executive Order,” he said.
“‘Pag nilabas na po ‘yan ni Presidente mapapabilis po ‘yung proseso ng paggamit ng mga bakuna na meron na ring authorization sa mga FDAs ng mga bansa kung saan na-develop ang mga vaccine,” he added.
According to Roque, with the EO, it will take only 21 days before a person can get the vaccine.
“Dati-rati po, bago magamit ang isang bakuna dito na approved na ng US o Chinese FDA, kinakailangan muna ng anim na buwan ng pagsusuri,” he added.
In the same press briefing, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said that the country is looking at 17 possible vaccines to bring into the country.
“Marami na tayong kinakausap na vaccine companies at saka maganda ang ating relationship with different countries,” he said.
“Iyong companies na sponsored nila ay may naka-allocate na quota sa atin,” he added.
However, Galvez said that they are recommending that there should still be a clinical trial of the said vaccines in the Philippines.
