Filipinos to participate in solidarity vaccine trial

MANILA – At least 15,000 Filipinos will take part in the World Health Organization’s Solidarity vaccine trials together with counterparts from Colombia.

NTF chief implementer and concurrent vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Jr. said 15,000 volunteers will join the trials.

He said Metro Manila residents are excited to join the trial and they are targeting some 15,000 volunteers.

Secretary Galvez appeared before the Laging Handa briefing over state-run PTV-4 shortly before midday today. However, he did not say whether the target has been reached.

Meanwhile, WHO Western Pacific Coordinator Dr. Socorro Escalante said the trial will begin this month. Speaking with the government-run Philippines News Agency (PNA), she said the WHO has been preparing to start the clinical trials this month.

“This is a very complex clinical trial so they have been ensuring that the vaccines that will be selected will be available before they start and that all protocols and sites for the clinical trial are really in place,” she was quoted by PNA as saying. (Melo M. Acuña)

NTF Chief Implementer and Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. (File Photo from PRRD's Talk to the Nation Address/RTVM/PCOO/PTV4/Melo M. Acuna)