The coronavirus is still very much in control

President duterte on sunday welcomed the arrival of 600,000 doses of sinovac Biotech’s Coronavac, which were donated by China and delivered by a Chinese military aircraft. On Monday, the country started its Covid-19 vaccination program amid public skepticism over the sinovac vaccine. For example, only one of 10 health workers at the Philippine General Hospital wants to get inoculated against the coronavirus using the sinovac vaccine, according to a survey.

Dr. Gerardo Legaspi, the director of the Philippine General Hospital, received the first dose of the Chinese jab. Prior to this, in a town hall meeting attended by PGH health workers, Legaspi said his decision to get the Sinovac vaccine was based on nothing else but science. “I told the health workers, let’s remove our view on the vaccine, separate from politics, party, administration, whatever belief. Let’s base it on science that is clear.” He expressed confidence that FDA Director General Eric Domingo and the vaccine expert panel will not approve a vaccine that is not safe. “The [Sinovac] vaccine may not be good in a lot of people’s opinion but if you examine it deeper, you will understand why I volunteered to be first to get vaccinated.”

The vaccination of the decorated neurosurgeon drew cheers and applause from the hospital staff and media representatives covering the historic event. It also served to convince other health workers to take the vaccine. Among those vaccinated at the PGH were FDA Director General Eric Domingo, MMDA Chief Benhur Abalos Jr., Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr., and Dr. Edsel Salvana of the DOH Technical Advisory Group.

Public opinion polls earlier revealed a resistance among a majority of people due to uncertainty over the safety and efficacy of the Sinovac vaccine. It has been found to be 50.4 percent effective in Brazilian clinical trials, according to the latest results released by researchers. This is barely over the 50 percent needed for regulatory approval. Researchers in Turkey said it is 91.25 percent effective. Turkish trials had included over 7,000 volunteers, but the efficacy result was based on data from 1,322 people. Indonesia said the vaccine is 65 percent effective based on trials involving some 1,600 people. Brazil has run the biggest trials so far with around 13,000 participants, and the Sinovac vaccine appeared to be safe in a late-stage clinical trial, as preliminary results have shown in October.

Despite having one of the region’s worst coronavirus problems, the Philippines is the last Southeast Asian nation to receive a Covid-19 vaccine. The Duterte administration is aiming to vaccinate 70 to 80 million Filipinos, but global supply problems have prevented the country to play catch up with Asean neighbors. This prompted vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. to quip, “Let’s not wait for the best vaccine. There’s no such thing. The best vaccine is the one that’s safe and effective, and arrives early.”

From the Associated Press: A senior World Health Organization official said on Monday it was “premature” and “unrealistic” to think the pandemic might be stopped by the end of the year, but that the recent arrival of effective vaccines could at least help dramatically reduce hospitalizations and death. The world’s singular focus right now should be to keep transmission of Covid-19 as low as possible, said Dr. Michael Ryan, director of WHO’S emergencies program. “If we’re smart, we can finish with the hospitalizations and the deaths and the tragedy associated with this pandemic” by the end of the year, he said.

A year ago when Covid infections almost overwhelmed hospitals in many countries, the world would have been delighted with a vaccine that had 50 percent efficacy. Sinovac’s Covid-19 vaccine is 100 percent effective in preventing severe and moderate infections, 77.96 percent effective in preventing mild cases, and has an overall efficacy of 50.4 percent in Brazil’s final-stage trials. The 600,000 Sinovac doses can potentially save the lives of 300,000 Filipino doctors, nurses, and other health workers if they get themselves vaccinated. Unfortunately, as we wait for other vaccines to arrive, the coronavirus is still very much in control.