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MANILA, Philippines – The government is not exercising any favoritism in purchasing vaccines for the 2019 coronavirus disease, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Thursday.
In an interview on the ABS-CBN news channel, Duque said that the procurement of the vaccines and even the conduct of clinical trials in the country are going through the proper process for approval.
“There are no favorites here. Like I said before, go through the process, ”he said when asked if the Philippines was leaning toward sourcing Sinovac vaccines from China rather than vaccine manufacturers from other countries.
“The Department of Science and Technology under the most competent leadership of (Secretary Fortunato) Roy Dela Peña, a person of unassailable integrity, has assembled the Vaccine Expert Panel to convey all these vaccine candidates using key indicators to ensure safety and effectiveness. of vaccines, “he added.
Duque added that the country’s Single Joint Ethics Review Board is also deliberating on ethical issues about vaccines.
“After which, a list will be passed to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and used as the basis for granting the Emergency Use Authorization for mas mapabilis’ yung proseso (for a faster process) ”He added.
Dr. Anthony Leachon, a health reform advocate and former adviser to the National COVID-19 Task Force, previously questioned the government’s plan to purchase 25 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from China’s Sinovac Biotech, even if still has not shown sufficient safety and efficacy data.
Malacañang, however, denied that he was favoring the more expensive CoronaVac, made by Sinovac, over other candidate vaccines.
“The reason we buy [CoronaVac] it’s that we can’t get Pfizer, AstraZeneca or Moderna right away, ”explained presidential spokesman Harry Roque.
On Monday, NTF against top COVID-19 implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Gálvez, Jr., said the government is seeking to finalize negotiations with Sinovac this week for a possible supply deal for its coronavirus vaccine in the country.
JE
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