AstraZeneca was eyeing to conduct clinical trials for its COVID-19 vaccine in the Philippines, according to DOH
The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday said that British firm AstraZeneca was eyeing to conduct clinical trials for its COVID-19 vaccine in the Philippines.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire made the said announcement two days after AstraZeneca announced that the COVID-19 vaccine that was jointly developed with Oxford University showed that it could be as much as 90% effective.
According to Vergeire, AstraZeneca first submitted its documentary requirements to the Vaccine Experts Panel (VEP) last November 16, adding that AstraZeneca’s documentary requirements weren’t complete at that time.
“Immediately, by November 18, they were able to complete all the documentary requirements so they are now for evaluation of the VEP and Ethics Review Board and other the rest of regulatory process for the clinical trial in the country,” Vergeire said.
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After securing approval from Vaccine Experts Panel and Ethics Review Board, AstraZeneca would still have to get an approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the Philippine before it can proceed on its clinical trials in the country.
Vergeire earlier said that it’s best that COVID-19 vaccines manufactured abroad conducted clinical trials in the Philippines since it would show how effective and safe the vaccine was for the Philippine population which was currently at least 110 million.
However, Vergeire deferred comment on the query if AstraZeneca was the best option for the country at this point despite the initial information.
According to Vergeire, government authorities were in talks with cold storage companies in the event that the Philippines needed it for storing COVID-19 vaccines while the country has yet to decide which COVID-19 vaccines to procure.
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