The Department of Science and Technology (DoST) has approved the Philippines’ participation in the solidarity trial for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine to be led by the World Health Organization (WHO). He said Sputnik V would be placed under the independent vaccine trials category, under which the vaccine manufacturer would shoulder the cost for the trials. Trials approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, including the solidarity trial, would be shouldered by DoST itself, he added. Guillermo Eleazar told the public to continue observing public health protocols after experts forecast that flattening the coronavirus curve could start by next week or next month. “How we achieve this projection still depends on us by being mindful of our safety, by respecting the government’s measures to protect public health,” he added.

Source: Manila Times August 29, 2020 16:13 UTC