PH vaccine procurement, policy based on science – Galvez
Press Release - PASIG CITY --- National Task Force against COVID 19 Chief Implementer and Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr assured the public that the government relies on science when it makes decisions regarding vaccine procurement, as well as in crafting policies in line with the implementation of the national immunization program.
In a radio interview on March 17, Galvez reaffirmed the government’s decision to continue the use of AstraZeneca vaccines in inoculating medical frontliners and healthcare workers, as he noted there is still “no concrete evidence” showing that the vaccine causes blood clots.
He emphasized that when it comes to matters regarding vaccine procurement and policy direction, “nakikinig tayo sa advisories ng mga experts at ng World Health Organization (WHO).”
The Vaccine Czar said that Novavax, 30 million doses of which have been procured by the government through a supply agreement signed with the Serum Institute of India (SII), is the second on the list of vaccines recommended by the Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) in terms of safety.
Galvez said that the Novavax was classified as a “second generation” vaccine by the experts, given that it was tested on different COVID-19 variants, including those coming from the UK and South Africa.
Clinical trials have shown that Novavax has an 89.5% overall efficacy rate against COVID-19. In particular, the vaccine has a 96.5 percent efficacy rate against normal strains, 86 percent against the UK variant, and 57 percent against the South African variant.
The Vaccine Czar said the vaccines are expected to arrive in the country by the third quarter, adding the Philippines might be included in the vaccine maker’s early delivery list by May or June.
Galvez said the actual delivery schedule of the vaccines will also be based on the approval of its Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the country’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
He also highlighted the benefits and importance of having a portfolio of vaccines in ensuring a country’s stable supply of vaccines given that delivery dates vary with every manufacturer.
Galvez said that all vaccines in the government’s portfolio are safe and effective, as these were reviewed and evaluated by the VEP.
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