Discard vax imperialism

Less popular sources of the vaccine, such as China and Russia, appear ready to start delivering to the country less the stringent requirements of the Western brands, such as the indemnification agreement.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said China’s Sinovac did not impose the indemnification commitment from the Philippines, but he assured the indemnification bill which the House has approved but remains pending with the Senate, will cover risks.

The problem, however, is that the authorization agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration, have moved too slowly compared with the Western brands such as Pfizer and AstraZeneca in processing the requirements for the rollout of the vaccines of Sinovac and Gamaleya. Sinovac, which has a concrete offer including a donation of 600,000 doses, just received its Emergency Use Authorization last Monday, weeks behind the Western brands.

FDA director general, Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo, said EUA was granted the Coronavac of Sinovac after a thorough review.

The action on the Chinese candidate was way behind the 14 January EUA granting to Pfizer and 28 January for AstraZeneca.

Gamaleya, according to Domingo, submitted requirements last Friday, including an application for foreign good manufacturing practice (GMP) inspection from the FDA. Bharat Biotech of India is also seeking EUA but the FDA, according to Domingo, has not received Phase 3 tests data.

Sinovac, despite the bad press it has been getting lately, which is largely instigated by lobbies from Western companies that are aiming for massive Philippine orders as a result of the pledge of President Rodrigo Duterte to have all Filipinos who wanted it will get the jab, has a better record than the others in terms of reactions.

Data from the ongoing Phase 3 trials show that when the vaccine is used on clinically healthy members of the community, aged 18 to 59, it has an efficacy rate of 65.3 percent to 91.2 percent based on Sinovac trials in Indonesia and Turkey, respectively. It has a lower efficacy rate of 50.4 percent when used on health care workers exposed to Covid-19. Therefore, it is not recommended for use in this group.

Among the adverse events reported for Coronavac were transient and mostly mild to moderate similar to common vaccine reactions. “No specific safety concerns were identified, but it must be noted that this only reflects limited follow-up and more adverse effects may emerge, that is why close surveillance and monitoring is needed after the immunization,” according to Domingo.

The vaccine is a good option for individuals who have allergies to components of other available vaccines, such as polyethylene glycol and polysorbate.

Philippine Ambassador to Russia Carlos Sorreta noted that Sputnik or the Gamaleya Russian vaccine, which has a reported 91 percent efficacy rate, is on “very advanced discussions on a technical level with Russia, which may even result to a partnership for local production of the serum.

“Once the FDA makes a decision (on authorization), the Russian side is ready to sit down and sign, which they have done already with

30 countries, and there are 50 other counties lined up,” Sorreta noted.

The chief diplomat said Russia has a policy to partner with other countries for local production, which they have already done with countries like South Korea and India.

“I have no doubt that we are able to, we have the capability, we have the great people and expertise (for the local production of Sputnik), but the priority now is to obtain supplies from the Russian side, and it’s important to be able to put our order soon,” he noted.

What is now being awaited is the FDA approval that Sorreta said, once given, will allow the shots to be readily available. The turnaround time will be fast since the Russian vaccine is being supplied now to 30 countries.

“If we make a decision soon and give the approval, I think the vaccines can come in a fairly quick amount of time,” Sorreta noted.

Since both vaccines are available, compared to the preferable brands that rich countries had hoarded, the FDA should also facilitate the authorization for the other sera.

Time is essential and the solution is staring us in the face.

“Since both vaccines are available, compared to the preferable brands that rich countries had hoarded, the FDA should also facilitate the authorization for the other sera.

“Sinovac… has a better record than the others in terms of reactions.

Many Filipino Catholics, who are against abortion, are extremely worried by a new bill drafted by pro-abortion activist Atty. Clara Rita Padilla. Padilla was featured in the South China Morning Post on 30 November 2020 as the author of the bill to “decriminalize” abortion, meaning to remove legal sanctions, which is tantamount to legalized abortion, or the murder of unborn babies.

Padilla said the pro-abortion bill “would save lives (of the mothers).” Here lies the dilemma of abortion — saving mothers but murdering unborn babies. In special justifiable circumstances, the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act implicitly allows abortion, but the constitutionality of abortion has yet

“Extreme poverty and the pandemic may weaken the resolve against abortion, especially with US abortion funds that may pour in sooner than we think.