5 hospitals to hold clinical trials for China’s COVID-19 vaccine

Covid-19 vaccine developed by Chinese company Sinovac Research and Development Co Ltd. Photo taken from UNB via The Daily Star/Asia News Network

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health has identified five hospitals which will be the site of clinical trials of China-based Sinovac Biotech’s vaccine against the coronavirus disease.

These are the Philippine General Hospital, San Lazaro Hospital, Manila Doctors Hospital, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, which are all in Metro Manila, and Vicente Sotto Medical Center in Cebu, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Monday.

“We have identified the hospitals already. Itong Sinovac ngayon, nasa Phase 2 siya and I think they have started already their Phase 3 and mayroon na rin na ganitong ginagawa sa ibang bansa katulad ng Brazil,” she said in an online media forum.

The local partner of Sinovac that will manufacture the vaccine in the country has likewise submitted its application to DOH for Phase 3 clinical trial study.

“Negotiations are still ongoing although they have already submitted their final confidentiality disclosure agreement at pinag-aaralan na ngayon ng ating vaccine experts panel,” Vergeire said.

Due to its inability to develop its own vaccine against COVID-19, the Philippines is relying on other countries to supply the vaccine for the deadly respiratory virus.

The country is currently in talks with 16 vaccine manufacturers worldwide, including that of Russia and China, the Department of Health earlier revealed.

The country also joined COVAX Facility, a mechanism designed to guarantee rapid, fair, and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines worldwide.

The Philippines is likewise part of the World Health Organization’s Solidarity Trial for different COVID-19 treatment.

As of August 30, COVID-19 cases in the country reached 217,396, of which 157,403 recovered while 3,520 died.