DOH: AstraZeneca eyeing clinical trials for its COVID-19 vaccine in the Philippines

British firm AstraZeneca’s bid to conduct clinical trials for its COVID-19 vaccine in the Philippines is pushing through in the aftermath of impressive results of its clinical trials in the UK, the Department of Health said Wednesday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire made the announcement two days after AstraZeneca announced that its joint COVID-19 vaccine effort with Oxford University showed that it could be as much as 90% effective.

“They first submitted documentary requirements to our Vaccine Experts Panel (VEP) last November 16, that time hindi pa kumpleto. 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.

After securing approval from VEP and Ethics Board, AstraZeneca would still have to get a green light from the Philippine Food and Drug Administration before it can proceed on its clinical trials here.

Vergeire earlier said it is best that COVID-19 vaccines manufactured abroad conduct clinical trials here since it would show how safe and effective the vaccine is for the Philippine population which is now a least 110 million.

AstraZeneca-Oxford’s COVID-19 vaccine has been found 70% effective against COVID-19 at first half dose, but it increases to 90% after the second full dose is administered.

Likewise, AstraZeneca’s price range is cheaper at $3 to $4 compared with American firms Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech which COVID-19 vaccines proved also over 90% effective cost more due to the requirement of an ultra low freezer storage.

Vergeire, however, deferred comment on the query if AstaZeneca is the best option for the Philippines at this point despite these initial information.

“Kung sa practicality at kung ideal ba sa atin, antayin po natin ang pag-evaluate ng ating mga eksperto,” Vergeire said.

Vergeire said while the Philippines has yet to decide which COVID-19 vaccines to buy, government authorities are in talks with cold storage firms in the event that the country needs it for storing COVID-19 vaccines.

“Storage requirements would depend on logistical requirements of a specific vaccine. Once we have final list of vaccines na ating i-aangkat o ipo-procure, saka natin mafa-finalize ang pangangailangan. But we are preparing, nakikiapagusap na ang ating mga units at saka agencies,” she said.

“One of the alternatives na tinitignan…meron pong mga suppliers o kumpanya na nag-aalok na ho na iyong kanilang walk-in freezer which can be repurposed raw to be a -70 degrees Celsius ultra low storage [for COVID-19 vaccine]. Tinitignan natin iyang option na iyan kasi sinasabi nila that they can do this technology,” Vergeire added.

Vergeire also said that the government is also in talks with cold chain logistics companies that the authorities can tap to store COVID-19 vaccines if the need arises.

The Philippines has recorded 421,722 COVID-19 cases so far.

Of this number, 386,792 recovered while 8,185 died.

This makes the number of active COVID-19 cases at 26,745. — RSJ/KBK, GMA News