DOH, DOST to discuss 'mix and match' of COVID-19 vaccine brands on July 15 —official

The Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the Philippine Society for Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (PSAAI) will meet on Thursday to plan the study on mixing COVID-19 vaccine brands, a DOST official said Tuesday.

At the Laging Handa briefing, DOST Undersecretary Rowena Guevara said the agencies will discuss the implementation of the mix and match trials.

“Nakatakdang magpulong ang DOST, DOH, at PSAAI sa ikalabing lima ng Hulyo upang mapagusapan nang lubusan ng implementation ng ating mix and match trials,” she said.

(The DOST, DOH, PSAAI are set to meet on July 15 to discuss the implementation of our mix and match trials for COVID-19 vaccines.)

She added that only approved COVID-19 brands will be used in the trials such as AstraZeneca, Sinovac, Pfizer, Moderna, and Sputnik.

At least 3,000 participants will be recruited for the trials from Manila, Pasig City, Antipolo, Marikina City, Makati, Pasay City, Quezon City, Muntinlupa, Cebu City, and Davao City, according to Guevara.

Only unvaccinated people can participate in the trial, she added.

On Sunday, DOST Vaccine Expert Panel chief Dr. Nina Gloriani said the study on mixing different brands of COVID-19 vaccines was delayed because some vaccine shipments did not arrive on the intended date.

DOST said it was eyeing to begin the study in June, but it must first obtain approval from the Food and Drug Administration and the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board.  —KBK, GMA News