3 potential COVID-19 vaccines to have clinical trials in Philippines —Palace

Published October 15, 2020 10:42 AM Updated October 15, 2020 11:01 AM By JOVILAND RITA,GMA News

At least three potential vaccines against COVID-19 are set to have clinical trials in the Philippines, according to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday.

“Meron po tayong tatlo na magkakaroon tayo ng clinical trials,” Roque said in an interview on Unang Hirit. “Kasama na po dyan ang Russia at tsaka 'yung sa China, at kung hindi ako nagkakamali meron pang isang Western company, hindi ko lang po masigurado kung ito po yung sa Oxford o sa Amerika.”

In a televised address on Wednesday, President Rodrigo Duterte once again expressed confidence

in the COVID-19 vaccines being developed by China. He also assured Filipinos of the safety of China’s potential vaccines.

“Those of you who are asking me kung safe ba itong China: I can say that China is a modern country and it has all the wherewithal… [its] integrity is fully protected by its achievements,” Duterte said.

Duterte also claimed that the country now has funds to procure COVID-19 vaccines once they are available.

“Nakahanap na ako ng pera. I have the money already for the vaccine, but hahanap pa ako ng maraming pera, because you know there are now 130 million Filipinos,” he said.

According to Roque, the potential vaccine Duterte was referring to is not among the three that are set to have clinical trials in the Philippines.

“Ang inaasahan po natin dahil nga nasa third and final clinical trial na sila ay hindi na po magtatagal na magkakaroon na tayo,” Roque said.

“Nagkaroon din po ng impormasyon ang Presidente na sa China, meron na pong nauna na vaccine na ito ay patapos na ng third clinical trial,” he added.

Earlier, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said at least three manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccines have applied to conduct clinical trials in the country.

Philippine Council for Health Research Development executive director Dr. Jaime Montoya said the manufacturers applied with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Montoya identified the vaccine products as Sputnik V, Sinovac, and Janssen.

On Monday, however, Johnson & Johnson said it had temporarily paused the clinical trials for its COVID-19  vaccine candidate Janssen due to an unexplained illness in a study participant.  —KBK, GMA News

View on GMA News