NCR, Calabarzon, Cebu areas tapped for COVID-19 vaccine trials

Clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccine will be conducted in select areas in Metro Manila, Calabarzon and Cebu, Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato dela Peña said Thursday.

Dela Peña said priority will be given to the World Health Organization's Solidarity Trial, which may involve 1,000 volunteers from barangays with a high number of infections.

“Anim [na trial zones] sa Metro Manila, isa sa Calabarzon, isa sa Cebu,” he said at the Laging Handa briefing.

According to the government’s coronavirus task force, 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 each barangay.

“Kung hindi kasya doon sa napiling mga barangay, maaari pang mag-overflow sa karatig na barangay. Importante kasi na iyong lugar na pipiliin ay malapit doon sa mga lugar na mataas ang incidence o ang cases dahil ating susubukan ang efficacy nang bakuna,” dela Peña said.

Independent clinical trials by private vaccine companies will also be assigned trial zones, he added.

The clinical trials will run for three to six months. -NB, GMA News