Senators: 50% Sinovac Efficacy Unacceptable
Paolo Romero (The Philippine Star) – December 26, 2020 – 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines – Senators yesterday strongly warned the government against risking the lives of Filipinos and against purchasing the Chinese Sinovac vaccine, saying it is not only expensive compared to other brands, but also reportedly poor. 50 percent effective.
In separate statements, Senate Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senate Leader Franklin Drilon expressed concern at reports that Sinovac studies in Brazil have shown that the vaccine made in China was only more than 50 percent effective. Its creator, Sinovac Biotech Ltd., has reportedly withheld data from its investigations so far.
They noted that the Pfizer vaccine has a high efficacy rate of 95 percent, but has strict cold storage requirements, while the AstraZeneca serum has an effectiveness of at least 75 percent, but with more compatible storage standards.
Zubiri said the country’s quest for COVID-19 vaccines must take into account key factors, including safety, efficacy, pricing, and ease of distribution and implementation.
“All of these factors must be harmonized to ensure that we provide our people with the vaccine that is cost-effective, but also efficient and available. When we say efficient, it means a high degree of efficacy, ”said Zubiri.
“That’s why the plan to get vaccines with an efficacy rate of only 50 percent is totally unacceptable and a total waste of our funds and resources. That there is a 50/50 chance that you will get COVID even after you have been vaccinated is a joke! he added.
To emphasize his point, Zubiri said a 50 percent efficacy rate could mean that one in two Filipinos stung with Sinovac would still be infected with COVID-19, which would be dangerous for seniors, frontliners, and those with comorbidities.
He called on the National Task Force on COVID-19 to look at the effectiveness of the vaccine candidates “rather than political or geopolitical reasons.”
“The safety of our people must come first, not the feelings of our neighbors,” said Zubiri.
Drilon said that while there is great urgency in purchasing vaccines and the government is trying to strike a balance between several key factors, safety and efficacy should be the first and foremost consideration, otherwise people run the risk of refusing the vaccinations for fear.
“We’re talking about the lives and future of Filipinos here. We cannot accept ‘that’s enough’ when it comes to vaccines, ”said Drilon in Filipino.
He said vaccine tsar secretary Carlito Galvez should carefully consider the reports on the Chinese vaccine and wait for clearer guidance from the scientific community and other authorizing bodies to determine whether Sinovac is “worth committing to our people. to offer”.
Most importantly, he said, the government will start a vaccination program in 2021 with the best possible combination of vaccines it can get.
“There is a global shortage of vaccines and we need to focus on vaccinating our priority segments,” said Drilon.
Herd immunity requires a multi-year vaccination program, and over time, the country may attempt to vaccinate 60 to 90 percent of the population.
“But our short-term priority should be to vaccinate our frontliners and the highest-risk population, which is the first 20 percent,” Drilon said.
Meanwhile, national carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is preparing its fleet to assist in the eventual transportation of COVID-19 vaccines to the country and region.
“The long-awaited global launch of the COVID-19 vaccine adds to the cautious optimism of the travel and tourism industry in the Philippines. PAL is preparing its fleet of wide-body aircraft to transport vaccines to the Philippines and the region, ”he said.
Rep. Precious Castelo, Quezon City’s second district, previously urged the government to appeal to local airlines for the transportation and delivery of COVID-19 vaccines in and around the country. – Richmond Mercurio