Gov’t
considering vaccines from Gamaleya, Sinovac for next year’s rollout
Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. reported to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Wednesday that he is working with the country’s vaccine experts to analyze the data of Russia’s Gamaleya and China’s Sinovac for a possible first quarter rollout in the Philippines.
During
a meeting with President Duterte, Galvez said he has communicated with the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and with the health and technical
advisory groups to study the records of Gamaleya and Sinovac.
“Kung
magiging successful tayo po sa Sinovac at saka Gamaleya kasi initial nila
puwede sila sa first quarter,” Galvez told the President.
“Kaya
po ang ginagawa namin pinapa-analyze naming mabuti sa ating vaccine expert
‘yung performance po ng Sinovac at saka ‘yung Gamaleya, ‘yung kanilang history
at saka ‘yung potential adverse event at saka ‘yung mga record ng mga kanilang
clinical trial.”
A
“mini rollout” in the first quarter of next year is just fine, Galvez said, as
the country could learn from the experiences of other countries that has
conducted mass inoculations.
For
instance, the Philippines can learn from UK’s experience, which has already
conducted immunizations using a vaccine developed by American pharmaceutical
company Pfizer.
“So
kung paano mag-deploy ang Pfizer ganun po ang gagawin po natin para magkaroon
tayo ng lessons learned at saka mawalan po tayo ng tinatawag na mga spillage at
saka ‘yung mga wastage ng mga vaccine kasi very sensitive po ‘yung Pfizer,” he
said.
Galvez
said they are expecting major vaccine deliveries of around 10 to 15 million
doses by the end of the second quarter or at the start of the third quarter
next year as manufacturers cope with huge demand.
Pharmaceutical
companies struggle to produce vaccines since securing raw materials takes some
time, according to the country’s vaccine czar.
“So
talagang ang production line po ay talagang nahihirapan din sila kasi mataas po
ang demand.”
But
aside from Gamaleya and Sinovac, the Philippine government is also negotiating
with AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson. It also has discussions
with Moderna and Sinopharm.
Once
contracts are sealed, the country could secure more than 60 million doses,
which will be available in tranches next year, Galvez said. (PND)
