MALACAÑANG ON Tuesday expressed confidence that Russia would share its potential vaccine against coronavirus disease (Covid-19) once it becomes available.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made this remark after a Russian institute developing a potential Covid-19 vaccine announced that it expects to start its final stage testing in a small section of the general public in mid-August.
“I hope it’s true kasi alam niyo naman po na hindi mababalik sa normal ang buhay natin kung walang vaccine (because you know our life won’t go back to normal until we have a vaccine),” Roque said in a virtual Palace briefing.
Roque said he expects the Philippines to be one of the countries to benefit from Russia’s potential Covid-19 vaccine given President Rodrigo Duterte’s independent foreign policy of being “friend to all, enemy to none.”
“Dahil naman po sa bagong polisya ng Presidente natin na independent foreign policy kung saan kaibigan tayo ng lahat at kalaban ng walang kahit sinong bansa, inaasahan natin na kung meron mang vaccine madevelop ang Russians e ise-share po nila ‘yan sa’tin (Because of the President’s independent foreign policy where we are friends to all, and enemy to none, we expect that Russia will share their vaccine once it is developed),” he said.
Earlier, Roque assured that the government would provide free vaccines to the disadvantaged once it is available.
Reports showed that early results from the first small-scale human trial of the vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Institute in Moscow have shown it to be safe for use.
Human trials began on June 18, with nine volunteers receiving one dose, and another nine testing the prospective booster dose.
The group did not experience any significant side effects and is due to be released from hospital.
Last month, Duterte himself said he was “happy” to learn that many countries have made significant progress in the development of a potential Covid-19 vaccine.
There is currently no cure or vaccine for Covid-19. However, clinical trials are reportedly ongoing to determine the safety and effectiveness of new and existing drugs, such as anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-malarial agents, in treating Covid-19 patients.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners earlier launched the “Solidarity Trial”, an international clinical trial, to help find an effective treatment for Covid-19.
The Philippines’ participation in the WHO Solidarity Trial has been approved by the Single Joint Research Ethics Board in support of the Covid-19 global response
Treatment czar
Following questions over Health Undersecretary for Special Concerns Leopoldo “Bong” Vega being named “treatment czar” instead of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Roque said the former was appointed as such after being named head of a new unit called Hospital One Incident Command.
“Kaya po tinawag naming siyang treatment czar kasi siya yung nagko-coordinate sa lahat ng mga ospital na kung saan po pupuwede pumunta ang mga pasyente (He is called treatment czar because he coordinates with hospitals where patients can get treated),” he said.
Vega was appointed to the health department after Duterte threatened to fire officials over the delay in the compensation of healthcare workers infected by Covid-19.
However, Duterte has also repeatedly vouched for Duque's integrity amid criticism over his handling of the Covid-19 situation in the country.
Roque earlier Duterte praised Vega for modernizing the Southern Philippines Medical Center, a hospital in Davao City which the President himself has frequented.
However, Roque said he does not know if Duterte wanted to replace Duque with Vega.
Vega refused to comment when asked if he was willing to become health secretary.
“Well, I don’t think I can answer it right now. That’s too theoretical. I am just preparing myself for undersecretary so I cannot fathom being secretary at this time,” Vega said. (By Azer Parrocha)
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