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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 11) – As the world welcomes a potential COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech, the Health Department said Wednesday that the Philippines must manage its expectations as the clinical trial is still in the early stages of its third and final phase.
“This Pfizer vaccine is very encouraging, but we must moderate our expectations and remain based on the reality that it is still being developed,” Health spokesperson María Rosario Vergeire said at a press conference.
US-based drug maker Pfizer said Monday that an early look at data for the coronavirus vaccine showed it to be more than 90% effective. He said the vaccine, which requires two doses, showed that protection was achieved 28 days after a person starts getting vaccinated.
Dr. Anna Ong-Lim, a member of the DOH technical advisory group, said that while the initial findings were “very encouraging,” she said many things may change as the trial progresses.
“Let’s keep our feet on the ground in reality. This is still very early, ”he said in the same briefing.
The Pfizer country manager and officials from DOH and the Food and Drug Administration are in constant communication. Vergeire said they cannot reveal details of the ongoing negotiation due to the confidentiality agreement signed by both parties.
DOH said they are studying how to keep vaccines that must be stored in an ultra-low freezer, below the requirement for existing vaccines in the country. The Pfizer vaccine should be kept between -70 and -80 degrees Celsius. Vergeire said that transporting vaccines for distribution is also a challenge due to its storage requirement.
He added that they are exploring options on a possible amendment to the procurement law in times of pandemic.
“We cannot pay until the orders arrive. Many of the manufacturers and partners with whom we are negotiating require an advance payment,” he said.
The Philippine Ambassador to the United States, José Manuel “Babes” Romualdez, previously expressed his confidence that the country will reach a good agreement with Pfizer to receive doses of its coronavirus vaccine due to the country’s warm ties with the United States. He set the vaccine at $ 5 per dose, the lowest price on the market.
CNN Philippines’ Carolyn Bonquin contributed to this report.
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