DOST to hold COVID-19 vaccine ‘mix and match’ trials in 3 cities

The country’s study on the safety and efficacy of mixing different COVID-19 vaccine brands will be piloted in the cities of Marikina, Muntinlupa, and Davao, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said on Saturday.

“Naka-identify na tayo ng vaccination sites. At saka nag-dry run na actually sila sa Marikina noong October 18 at nagpi-prepare ng dry run din itong October 25 to 29 doon sa Muntinlupa at saka sa Davao sites,” DOST Undersecretary Rowena Guevara said at the Laging Handa briefing.

(We have identified vaccination sites and they actually had a dry run in Marikina on October 18. They [mix and match study team] are also preparing for a dry run on October 25 to 29 in Muntinlupa and Davao sites.)

“Dito sa mix and match, malalaman natin na puwede ba iyong first two shots mo ay itong klase ng bakuna tapos iyong pangatlo mo ay ibang klase ng bakuna,” she explained.

(Here in the mix and match we will know if your first two shots can be this type of vaccine and your third is a different type of vaccine.)

Guevara said the DOST was working with the Department of Health (DOH), which will provide the vaccine doses for the clinical trial. She said the department was also coordinating with local government units.

“Ina-assure namin kayo na tamang-tama ang dating nitong results ng mix and match dahil sa aming estima siguro next year, first quarter pa naman tayo mag-iisip ng booster or third shots,” she said.

(We assure you that the results of the mix and match will come at the right time because in our estimate, we will only think about administering booster or third shots in the first quarter of next year.)

The mix and match COVID-19 vaccine boosters may give a stronger immune response than sticking to one type of jab, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said on Thursday.

The EMA said it was studying data to see if it will follow a decision by United States authorities on Wednesday to allow the use of a different vaccine for follow-up shots.

The Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca vaccines are authorized in the EU. So far only Pfizer is cleared for boosters in adults. — VBL, GMA News