Rodrigo Duterte a Philippine President has accepted Russia’s offer of its Coronavirus vaccine, assisting to take take the first shot as a gesture of trust and gratitude. Duterte said in a briefing on Monday night that “As the vaccine arrives, I will be injecting it to myself in public. Testing on me first will be fine with me”. the President also stated that the Philippines is ready to assist Russia in clinical trials and local production.
According to the Department of Health the Philippines has 136,638 confirmed Coronavirus cases, the highest in South Asia and on Monday it reported new 6,958 infections, the largest daily increase. Last month Duterte also asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to help Philippines to get priority access to COVID-19 vaccine.
Report claims that early as this week, Russian Government plans to start distributing door to door vaccine for civilian use only after vaccine is developed by Moscow’s Gamaleya Institute. The Health Ministry said mass vaccinations could begin by october.
Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said members of “risk groups,” such as medical workers, may be offered the vaccine this month. He didn’t clarify whether they would be part of the Phase 3 study that is said to be completed after vaccine receives, ” conditional approval.”
But some experts, including Dr. Anthony Fausi, the top U.S infectious disease specialist, raise question on the fast-track approach. He said that “I do hope that the Chinese and the Russians are actually testing a vaccine before they are administering the vaccine to anyone, because claims of having a vaccine ready to distribute before you do testing I think is problematic at best”.
