By Fernan Angeles
IF they had their way, the Department of Health would consider safety and effectiveness of the potential vaccine against COVID-19, if and when the country opts to buy them from foreign countries.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire’s statement is far from the criteria earlier hinted at by President Rodrigo Duterte who is taking on its cost, adding that all vaccines have the same effect anyway.
During an online forum, Vergeire said the potential vaccines against COVID-19 have to be cleared by the World Health Organization and by regulatory agencies in the Philippines before the DOH procures them.
“Ang gusto po natin ay iyong pinakamabisa for our population. Bago tayo bumili ng bakuna, dapat masigurado natin ‘yung safety at efficacy. Kaya nga po tayo bumuo pa ng vaccine expert panel under Department of Science and Technology to ensure this,” she said.
Vergeire then said that the vaccine should be registered with the Food and Drug Administration and cleared by the Philippine National Drug Formulary, Health Technology Assessment Council, and WHO.
“Dapat po ang bakuna, pre-qualified po ng WHO kasi tedious na po ang pre-qualifications ng WHO. So this is another layer of safeguard. Dapat po may clearance from international and reputable institutions abroad,” she said.
She however clarified that price would always be a consideration though.
“Iyong presyo will always matter, pero kung may makita po tayo na pinakamura na safe at effective, iyan po ang objective rin natin,” Vergeire added.
The Philippines has recorded 241,987 COVID-19 cases thus far. Of this number, 185,178 recovered while 3,916 died.
The number of active cases is at 52,893.