Russia willing to help the Philippines in its fight vs COVID-19
MANILA – Russian Ambassador to Manila Igor Anatolyevich Kovaev said his government has already produced a vaccine against the feared coronavirus which has caused fears of unimaginable proportions worldwide.
In a virtual press conference this afternoon, Ambassador Kovaev said a vaccine has already been developed by the St. Petersburg-based Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology that is already undergoing trials. He said the same institute is responsible for the effected vaccines against Ebola which affected parts of Africa and MERSCOV in recent years.
Ambassador Kovaev said they hope to finish the official administrative requirements by mid-August and that mass production will be launched.
“We are ready to cooperate with everyone because the current pandemic is a worldwide concern,” he said.
He likewise downplayed reports that several Russian citizens were involved in theft of vital research information in the COVID-19 vaccine research.
“I am reminded of a Chinese saying “it is difficult to find a black cat in a dark room, most especially where there is no cat,’” Ambassador Kovaev said adding his country doesn’t buy anything from other countries because they develop what is needed.
Speaking of cooperation with the Philippines, Ambassador Kovaev said there are three ways both countries can benefit from a more robust bilateral relations through their vaccine.
“First, we can have clinical trials in the Philippines should your government find it necessary. Second, we can supply the vaccine and third, which is the most important, we can produce the vaccine in the Philippines with our local partners,” he said,
He said his country is willing to share the technology.
“With this, we can have a robust cooperation with the Philippines,” Ambassador Kovaev explained. (Melo M. Acuña)
Russian Ambassador Igor Anatolyevich Kovaev. (Screen grab from the virtual press conference this afternoon)
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