There were tons of stories and news about where our country will be getting the COVID-19 virus; some sources say that we will get it from Russia, while others say that it will be coming from China. However, some of the most recent stories confirm the fact that there will be planned clinical trials in five hospitals in the country to test the Chinese vaccine that would help out in the current COVID-19 situation.
Maria Rosario Vergeire, the Undersecretary of the Department of Health (DOH), say that there are a couple of negotiations and transactions between the Philippine Government and Sinovac Biotech Ltd., the Chinese drug maker.
As per Vergeire, there currently are a lot of discussions about the particular vaccine. More so, about how it’s going to be developed and applied to various hospitals in the country.
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Everything is under discussion for now. We are still negotiating. However, for initial information, we already have proposed sites where this clinical trial is going to be implemented.”
Known as CoronaVac, this vaccine will be known and named as the solution that would end the COVID-19 outbreak in the world.
Sinovac Biotech Ltd. and Testing
Sinovac, a biopharmaceutical company in China; is currently on the testing phase and they’re nearing the phase where they are ought to be completed. The vaccine that they are looking to produce is only one of the few to enter the final stages of clinical trials.
In addition to China, it is also currently undergoing tests in Brazil. As of this moment, Brazil is the second ranking country with the highest number of cases of COVID-19 infections after the U.S. Vergeire said that several experts are on the move of studying the COVID-19 vaccine. More so, she also said that Sinovac’s local partner passed and submitted applications for clinical testing and evaluation.
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This is being studied by the vaccines experts panel. We’ll provide information once everything is finalized.”
Should you be wondering, Vergeire said that they have already figured which hospitals would pursue the testing. Moreover, she even said that the Sinovac or the vaccine is already in its 2nd phase.
We have identified the hospitals already. Itong Sinovac ngayon, nasa Phase 2 siya and I think they have started already their Phase 3 and mayroon na rin na ganitong ginagawa sa ibang bansa katulad ng Brazil.”
Yes, the DOH was able to identify the five hospitals that would test and evaluate the vaccine in our country. These hospitals are expected to relay all important, valuable, and resourceful details about the vaccine based on their testing and their evaluation.
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The Five Hospitals to Test the Coronavirus Vaccine
According to the Health Undersecretary, the five hospitals assigned to pursue the testing in the country would be:
- The Manila Doctors Hospital;
- Philippine General Hospital;
- The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine;
- San Lazaro Hospital; and
- The Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center
These are the hospitals that would be subject for the testing of the CoronaVac in the country. The clinical testing or evaluation procedures would be for the entire betterment and development of the country’s journey towards freedom from COVID-19.
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In Talks With Various Vaccine Manufacturers
As of the moment, Vergeire said that the Philippines is in the talks with a total of 16 vaccine manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies in the world. This includes the Russian manufacturers and the Chinese manufacturers.
In addition to that, the Philippines also joined the COVAX Facility. It is amechanism that is made specifically to guarantee and ensure swift, urgent, and equal access to the ongoing development of COVID-19 vaccines from all around the globe.
So, we shouldn’t worry about us getting the vaccine. The Philippine Government is doing what it can to make sure that we get the vaccine for the virus. It’s mapping out plans and roadmaps as to how we will be able to get a grasp of the COVID-19 vaccine once it becomes available to the market.
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As of today, there are over 220,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country. That number ranks us the first in Southeast Asia to be the country with the most number of infections.
What do you think about the fact that there will be five hospitals to hold the clinical trials of the COVID-19 vaccine in the country? Furthermore, do you think that it will be helpful for us to do so? Based on reports and studies, the vaccine could be used and could be in effect around the second (2nd) quarter of the year 2021.
Source/s: The Philippine Daily Inquirer | ABS-CBN News
I am willing to undergo training
San po puedeng mg apply po s contact tracing