Everything is Ready, Just Owe WHO a Nod : the Philippines is Ready to Start a New Coronavirus Vaccine Trial

According to the Philippine World Journal report, on October 7, Vice Minister of Health Virgil held an online press conference on the same day to assure the public that once the World Health Organization launches the 'solidarity trial', the Philippines can start the new coronary pneumonia virus vaccine clinical trial immediately.

Virgil emphasized, 'We have completed the preparations. Therefore, when the WHO signals that we can start, we are ready to conduct these experiments.'

She claimed that the research supporters from the General Hospital of the National University of the Philippines have submitted a clinical trial protocol, which has now been approved.
 

Virgil said, '(They) have also determined the clinical trial sites in the Philippines together with the WHO. These have been studied, and the benchmark considerations for determining the trial sites will be included in the clinical trial process.'

The government has previously stated that it will recruit volunteers to participate in the trial in the 5 to 10 Barangays with the highest rate of confirmed cases of new coronary pneumonia.
 

The Ministry of Health said that since clinical trials will be carried out in the community, the Ministry has been in contact with relevant local government departments and discussed arrangements including the latter’s memorandum of agreement with the relevant central government department.
 

Virgil said, 'The memorandum of agreement stipulates the respective responsibilities of the central government and local government departments.'
 

The Deputy Minister claimed that his Health Promotion Bureau has also started contacting some communities.
She added, 'We will be in touch with the community to inform the relevant communities about the trials that will be conducted, the advantages of these vaccines, the possible adverse effects and how to benefit the community.'
 

Virgil revealed, 'In addition to the vaccine expert group responsible for screening possible vaccines and their test protocols, the government has also established a data security monitoring committee.'
 

She said, 'This is to pay attention to this course of treatment to gain immunity so that we have experts at any time to analyze and provide further advice to the executives of the Ministry of Health and local government departments.'
 

Virgil also specifically mentioned that because vaccines require different temperatures when stored, they are also studying cold storage facilities for vaccines.
 

Although there were earlier reports that the new coronary pneumonia virus vaccine may be available before mid-2021, the World Health Organization said on October 6 that the vaccine may not be available until the end of next year.