At least 15,000 Filipinos to join WHO-led COVID-19 vaccine trial
Hanoi (VNA) - At
least 15,000 Filipinos are expected to participate in the World Health Organisation-led
coronavirus vaccine trial that will likely kick off this month, a Philippine
government official said on January 6.
The
Philippines and Colombia will be the first two countries to take part in the vaccine
trial. Participants will come from Metro Manila, the capital region and the epicenter
of the COVID-19 outbreak in the Philippines.
The trial
aims to determine the safety and efficacy of the candidate vaccine.
The Philippine Government is now "in the advance
stages" of negotiations with at least seven vaccine makers, including
Chinese drug maker Sinovac Biotech, Novavax, Pfizer and
Johnson & Johnson of the US, and Russian medical research institute Gamaleya to buy
vaccines.
According
to the latest statistics, Philippines now records over 480,000 infection cases,
including more than 9,300 deaths./.