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Recto drives the ‘vaccine czar’
SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, chair of the Senate Health and Demographics Committee, warned against accelerating the development of a vaccine against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), emphasizing the need to ensure that it is safe and effective.
In a radio interview on Friday, Go said in Filipino that Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd laid out a timeline for vaccine development and testing in the country, citing March 2021 as the estimated time for completion of Phase 3. of the essay.
Once a vaccine is certified as safe and effective for use, the senator said that the poor and vulnerable should be prioritized so that they can immediately resume their normal lives.
Go warned against rushing the production and availability of the Covid-19 vaccine. He said that the important thing was that the vaccine was tested and declared safe.
He said there is ongoing collaboration between multinational pharmaceutical companies and the Philippine authorities regarding the conduct of clinical trials and access to the Covid vaccine based on his talk with the CEO of the Food and Drug Administration, Eric Domingo, Friday night.
The legislator also urged the Department of Science and Technology, the lead agency in charge of clinical trials, to ensure that the process is expedited but still in accordance with applicable scientific standards.
Go has said that the government had set aside funds for the purchase and development of the vaccine and was seeking additional funding to expand the immunization program.
Until then, the senator encouraged the public to continue adhering to health and safety protocols, such as the use of masks and face shields, observing social distancing and frequent hand washing, among others, to prevent further spread of the virus. .
Vaccine Czar
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto urged President Rodrigo Duterte to appoint a “vaccine czar” who could solve the “import by injection” challenges of bringing the vaccine to 110 million Filipinos in a world where countries rich people who finance their development would get them first. .
Recto said that appointing the vaccine czar so early would also push for the establishment of a “cold chain of syringe supply,” as vaccines must be transported and stored at freezing temperatures in a tropical country that lacks the infrastructure to do so.
Although 170 candidate vaccines are in various stages of development, the World Health Organization said only about 2 billion doses could be implemented by the end of 2021.
“So how many will be available to Filipinos? The countries that have invested billions in their development have strong orders, so they are first in line. Where is the Philippines in the long line? Recto asked.
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