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FDA told to approve Chinese vaccines
By Fernan Angeles PRESIDENT Duterte has directed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to fast-track the approval of the China-made vaccines Sinovac and Sinopharm, FDA director-general Rolando Domingo said. Responding to Duterte, Domingo said that they are still waiting for the results of the clinical trial of China-made COVID-19 vaccines, so the FDA could start…
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Duque heeds calls, agrees to take first shot of vaccine from China
By Fernan Angeles APPALLED by nasty remarks on the government’s preference for Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccines, Health Secretary Francisco Duque agreed to take the first shot of it before the government starts administering vaccination to some 24 million Filipinos on the “priority list.” In an online press briefing, Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said that aside from…
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No way to vaccinate 70 million Filipinos in a year
By Fernan Angeles GIVEN the tall task of securing supplies for international pharmaceutical companies behind the COVID-19 vaccines, there is no way to be able to vaccinate 70 million Filipinos in a span of one year, says Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire. Echoing the statement of National Task Force vs. COVID-19 chief Carlito Galvez, Jr. who…
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Vaccine priorities identified, vaccination starts early 2021
By Fernan Angeles THE government hinted at prioritizing vaccination in areas with a minimum recorded COVID-19 active cases of 3,000 and up, says vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. on Thursday. In a statement, Galvez said that among the areas that the government is particularly looking at Bacolod, Iloilo, Cebu and Tacloban, even as the…
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Clinical trials for five COVID-19 vaccines to start in December
By Fernan Angeles AT least five potential COVID-19 vaccines would likely have its clinical trials here in the Philippines by December, says Philippine Council for Health Research Development executive director Jaime Montoya. In a radio interview, Montoya said the start of trials would depend on the compliance of manufacturers. “Ang ating prediction, mga December. Kasi…
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Duterte to make advance payment for vaccines
By Fernan Angeles TAKING cue from the recommendations made by the National Task Force Against COVID-19, President Rodrigo Duterte agreed to enter into advance supply agreements and provide early payments to COVID-19 vaccine producers. At the regular press briefing, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the President made the decision based on the recommendations of National…