FDA yet to approve COVID-19 vaccine trials in Philippines

The Food and Drug Administration has yet to approve clinical trials for vaccines for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the country.

According to a report on “24 Oras News Alert” on Tuesday, the go-signal from the FDA is needed before any clinical trial could proceed.

Science and Technology director Dr. Jaime Montoya clarified that those who will participate in the clinical trial will undergo a detailed selection process.

He said areas with high transmission of COVID-19 will be prioritized. There will also be a zoning wherein each vaccine will be assigned to a certain area.

Once an area is chosen, authorities will then select residents who will undergo the trials.

The clinical trials will last for three to six months.

According to a newly-approved Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases resolution on Monday, the recipients of vaccines under the World Health Organization's Solidarity Trial will be recruited from the 10 barangays with the highest number of COVID-19 cases.

As of Tuesday, cases of COVID-19 in the country reached 241,987 with 185,178 recoveries and 3,890 deaths.—AOL, GMA News