10 barangays with most cases to be enlisted in COVID-19 vaccine trials

The recipients of vaccines under the World Health Organization's Solidarity Trial will be recruited from the ten barangays with the highest number of COVID-19 cases, according to a newly approved  Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases resolution.

In a Palace briefing on Monday, Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato de la Peña said the guidelines for the trials have been approved under IATF Resolution No. 68.

“Vaccine recipients under the WHO Solidarity Trial will be recruited from the top 5 - 10 barangays reporting high COVID-19 cases, based on the attack rates per 1000 population per barangay,” de la Peña explained.

Under the resolution, the WHO Solidarity Trial will be the priority assignment of trial zones.

“This notwithstanding, independent trials should nonetheless be considered in such a way that they will not be deprived of trial sites," the resolution noted.

De la Peña said private companies’ independent clinical trials will also be assigned with trial zones for equal and rational distribution to avoid competition in subject recruitment.

“To address shortfalls in recruitment by specific barangays, the deficit can be taken over by other barangays with faster recruitment to meet the total target sample size,” the resolution said.

Dated September 3, the resolution also includes the creation of a sub-technical working group on vaccine procurement to be led by the Department of Budget and Management – Procurement Service. — DVM, GMA News