MANILA – At least three potential vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) will be tested in the country, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announced Thursday.
“Meron po tayong tatlo na magkakaroon ng clinical trials,” Roque said. “Kasama na po dyan ang Russia at tsaka ‘yung sa China, at kung hindi ako nagkakamali meron pang isang Western company, hindi ko lang po masigurado kung ito po ‘yung sa Oxford o sa Amerika.”
“Ang inaasahan po natin dahil nga nasa third and final clinical trial na sila ay hindi na po magtatagal na magkakaroon na tayo,” he added. “Nagkaroon din po ng impormasyon ang Presidente na sa China, meron na pong nauna na vaccine, na ito ay patapos na ng third clinical trial.”
During his public address on Wednesday, President Rodrigo Duterte said the country now has enough funds to procure COVID-19 vaccines once available.
“Nakahanap na ako ng pera. I have the money already for the vaccine, but hahanap pa ako ng maraming pera, because you know there are now 130 million Filipinos,” Duterte said.
“And to me, ideally, all should have the vaccine, without exception. Lahat. Para meron kayong lifetime. ‘Yung body, ‘yung armor mo ‘yung sundalo mo sa katawan mo, malabanan siya,” he added.
According to Duterte, the poorest of the poor based on the list of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program will be prioritized along with military personnel and security forces.
“Again, mauna ang mga mahirap na walang pera, hindi makabayad. Ang listahan ‘yung doon sa Pantawi. May listahan ‘yan. ‘Yun ang sundin. Then, pagkatapos, to the public,” Duterte said.
“But para walang taguan, I want my soldiers, pati ‘yung security forces ng bayan mauna rin kasabay ng first batch. Kasi kailangan ko ng mga sundalo at pulis na ready, healthy, at walang COVID,” he added.
“They are really vital to the security of the state. For which reason they should be the first also. Tayo, kami, mga civilian, puwede tayong last,” the President furthered.
A worldwide race for a coronavirus vaccine is underway, with at least nine pharmaceutical firms in the US and Europe in late-stage trials. Russian and Chinese firms are also developing their own vaccines against the illness./PN
