DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña gives updates on the approved IATF resolution no. 68, focusing on the conduct of Covid-19 vaccine clinical trials. (Screenshot from Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque's briefing on Monday, September 7, 2020)
MANILA -- The Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, in a resolution no. 68 dated September 3, 2020, has approved the recommendations on the conduct of clinical trials of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-led sub-technical working group (TWG) on vaccine development.
In a briefing with Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday, DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña said the sub-TWG on vaccine development, assisted by the Vaccine Expert Panel, has made the following recommendations:
* The World Health Organization (WHO) Solidarity Trial will be given priority in clinical trial sites.
De la Peña said there are two vaccine clinical trials -- the independent clinical trials by companies, and the WHO Solidarity Trial.
If in case there will be a competition in a trial site, the WHO will be prioritized, but authorities will make sure the companies will not be deprived of trial sites, he explained.
* Vaccine recipients participating in the WHO Solidarity Trial shall be recruited from the top 5-10 barangays reporting high coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases, based on the attack rates per 1,000 population of each barangay.
He said this is important to test the efficacy of the vaccine, and that the Department of Health's Epidemiology Bureau will help in monitoring.
"The trial sites will be at the barangay level," de la Peña said, adding that participants should be those who are its real residents. "Transient residents are discouraged unless they can prove they will stay there for another two years because we need to monitor them," he said.
* Independent trials will be assigned with trial zones, in such a way there will be no competition in recruiting participants.
"If in case there will be an outbreak in one town, the WHO vaccine team can move the clinical trial there," he said. In such a case, the next most adjacent barangay may be considered, he added.
* The DOST and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) have agreed on the involvement of local government units (LGUs) in the vaccine clinical trials.
"There will be close coordination with LGUs for zoning in barangays. The DOST and DOH already have a template for this," de la Peña said.
* There will be alternative modes of follow-up, such as the use of barangay volunteers and utilization of mobile phones, in consideration of the restricted mobility due to the implementation of general community quarantine in some areas.
Meanwhile, de la Peña said the sub-TWG on vaccine development also proposed the creation of sub-TWG for vaccine procurement, which will be led by the Department of Budget and Management. Based on the IATF's resolution, the DOH will decide what vaccine and number of doses would be procured. (PNA)
In a briefing with Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday, DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña said the sub-TWG on vaccine development, assisted by the Vaccine Expert Panel, has made the following recommendations:
* The World Health Organization (WHO) Solidarity Trial will be given priority in clinical trial sites.
De la Peña said there are two vaccine clinical trials -- the independent clinical trials by companies, and the WHO Solidarity Trial.
If in case there will be a competition in a trial site, the WHO will be prioritized, but authorities will make sure the companies will not be deprived of trial sites, he explained.
* Vaccine recipients participating in the WHO Solidarity Trial shall be recruited from the top 5-10 barangays reporting high coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases, based on the attack rates per 1,000 population of each barangay.
He said this is important to test the efficacy of the vaccine, and that the Department of Health's Epidemiology Bureau will help in monitoring.
"The trial sites will be at the barangay level," de la Peña said, adding that participants should be those who are its real residents. "Transient residents are discouraged unless they can prove they will stay there for another two years because we need to monitor them," he said.
* Independent trials will be assigned with trial zones, in such a way there will be no competition in recruiting participants.
"If in case there will be an outbreak in one town, the WHO vaccine team can move the clinical trial there," he said. In such a case, the next most adjacent barangay may be considered, he added.
* The DOST and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) have agreed on the involvement of local government units (LGUs) in the vaccine clinical trials.
"There will be close coordination with LGUs for zoning in barangays. The DOST and DOH already have a template for this," de la Peña said.
* There will be alternative modes of follow-up, such as the use of barangay volunteers and utilization of mobile phones, in consideration of the restricted mobility due to the implementation of general community quarantine in some areas.
Meanwhile, de la Peña said the sub-TWG on vaccine development also proposed the creation of sub-TWG for vaccine procurement, which will be led by the Department of Budget and Management. Based on the IATF's resolution, the DOH will decide what vaccine and number of doses would be procured. (PNA)
