MANILA – The earliest that President Rodrigo Duterte might get immunized with Russian coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine “Sputnik-V” is by May 2021, according to Malacañang.
“Inaasahan natin na pupwedeng magpabakuna ang ating Presidente dito po sa Russian na bakuna sa Mayo 1, 2021,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a virtual press conference on Thursday.
The Philippines and Russia are planning to run phase 3 clinical trials of Sputnik-V from October this year to March next year and the vaccine might be registered with the local Food and Drug Administration by April next year.
Phase 3 clinical trials, according to the website of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), involve “300 to 3,000 volunteers who have the disease or condition.” It is meant to test the efficacy and monitoring of adverse reactions of the drug.
“Mula Oktubre naman po hanggang Marso ng susunod na taon ay magkakaroon ng clinical trial phase 3. Simultaneous po ‘yan sa Russia at Pilipinas,” Roque said.
“Sa Abril, inaasahang marerehistro po ang bakuna ng Russia. At ibig sabihin po, sa Mayo 1, 2021 pa lamang na pupwedeng magpasaksak ng bakuna mula sa Russia ang ating Presidente,” he added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared his country as the first to approve a coronavirus vaccine on Tuesday. Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine has been developed by the Gamaleya research institute in coordination with the country’s defense ministry./PN
