Some barangays remain unaware they're part of WHO solidarity trial

Some barangays in Luzon said Thursday they were still uninformed of their participation in the World Health Organization’s solidarity trials, according to Mariz Umali’s report on Balitanghali.

Barangay 699 in Malate, Manila, one of the solidarity vaccine trial sites, residents were still wary over the vaccine’s safety.

“‘Di po ako papayag kung saka-sakali kasi una sa lahat, dahil nga ‘yong sa Dengvaxia, mahirap din ‘yong ikaw ang maging kumbaga sa’yo sasampolan, ‘di ako papayag, ayaw ko,” Rhea of Malate said.

Barangay captain Edwin Chan, meanwhile, said he is willing to take the first jab of the vaccine to set a good example among his constituents.

“Eh tayo lider eh. To set a good example,” Chan said.

He also said the barangay will conduct a survey to identify those who are willing to undergo the trial but will still be based on the guidelines of the Department of Science and Technology.

In Baguio City, Barangays Sta. Scholastica, Burnham Legarda, City Camp, and Aurora Hill were chosen by the Department of the Interior and Local Government as participating sites.

Barangay captain Thelma Pasag said they will first disseminate the information among the residents then identify those who are willing to undergo the trial.

“Siguro idi-disseminate po muna namin sa aming barangay, sa constituents namin para alam po nila at kung papayag pa sila, ‘yon po ang gagawin namin. Kung sino po ang papayag kasi nakakatakot daw po kasi ‘yong vaccine na ganiyan. May mga side effect ata,” Pasag said.

DOST vaccine expert panel council chairperson Dr. Nina Gloriani earlier said the initial participating sites will come from areas with high transmission of COVID-19 such as in Metro Manila, CALABARZON, and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

Gloriani said WHO's solidarity trials in the country will prioritize the age group 18 to 59 years old, and those who belong to the COVID-19 high risk groups like healthcare workers, frontliners and contacts of infected patients.

Special groups may be added later such as elderlies who are 60 years old and above, as well as children who are immunocompromised.

Gloriani, who is also a member of the WHO scientific steering committee, identified 14 hospital sites that could be enrolled in the clinical trials:

• Philippine General Hospital (lead hospital)
• Research Institute of Tropical Medicine
• Manila Doctor's Hospital

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• San Lazaro Hospital
• St. Lukes Medical Center - Quezon City
• St. Lukes Medical Center  - Bonifacio Global City
• Lung Center of the Philippines
• The Medical City
• Makati Medical Center
• De La Salle Medical Center - Cavite
• Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center - Cebu City
• Southern Philippines Medical Center - Davao City
• Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center
• Western Visayas Medical Center - Iloilo City

Asked why some barangays were not informed about the trial, DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Peña said the total number of participants is still being discussed.

“Kailangang mabilis nating matapos ‘yong clinical trial and kailangan nating makakuha ng enough volunteers agad,” Dela Peña said.

“Kailangan kasi ‘yong mga lugar na matataas ang cases para maganda ‘yong aral ng efficacy,” he added.

The DOST earlier said the solidarity trial is expected to start in January 2021.

Aside from the potential vaccine products under the WHO solidarity trial, five potential COVID-19 vaccines applied for possible clinical trials in the Philippines:  Sinovac, Janssen, Sputnik V, Clover Biopharmaceuticals, and AstraZeneca. —LBG, GMA News