Image credits: AP/Valentina Petrova
The World Health Organization and the Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday maintained the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine is effective, despite a study suggesting the vaccine may be less effective against the B1.351 (South Africa) variant detected in the country.
WHO Representative to the Philippines Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe said that the study that has been cited involved only “small sample” or less than 2,000 people.
“We are still looking at this report and analyzing [it],” Dr. Abeyangsinghe said in an online media forum.
Hee said AstraZeneca is effective “even in places where you have the large proportion of cases, which could be attributed to the B1.351 or South Africa variant.”
The AstraZeneca vaccines arrived in the country Thursday night.
The WHO official said there is no evidence of the large scale presence of the South Africa variant in the country.
“As what we reiterate before, we have the window to ensure that we protect as many people as possible so that we reduce the risk of the virus among the population and possibly prevent the importation and speedy control of this variant,” he said.
Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano said there were already four South Africa variant recorded in the city.
Not peer-reviewed
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire echoed Abeyasinghe saying that the sample used was just a small population, mostly of young persons.
“At hindi pa peer reviewed and study. Hindi pa complete ang ebidensiya for us to state na mangyayari ito. Pero syempre pinakikinggan natin ito [This is not yet a peer-reviewed study. The evidence is not yet complete for us to state that this will happen. But we listen to this kind of study],” Vergeire stressed.
As long as there is no “certainty”, the health official said that the rollout of AstraZeneca will continue.
“Sa atin naman, we like to always err on the side of caution pero hindi para sabihin na mawawala ang bisa nito [ On our part, we like to err on the side of caution but not to say that this is not effective],” she stressed.
On Wednesday, OCTA Research Fellow Fr. Nicanor Austriaco stressed the need to contain the South Africa variant so as not to affect the efficacy of the AstraZeneca vaccines.
Fr. Austriaco urged the DOH and the local government of Pasay to prevent the spread of South Africa variant for it can reduce the efficacy of AstraZeneca vaccines from 70 percent to 10 percent.
“If we do not eliminate the B1.351 variant in the Philippines, then the 17 million doses of AstraZeneca that we have bought will be ineffective,” Fr. Austriaco said.
AstraZeneca’s arrival
According go the DOH, the 487,200 AstraZeneca Covid-19, developed in South Korea, doses arrived Thursday night.
The vaccines came from Belgium after stopping over at Bangkok before the Philippines.
Upon arrival at NAIA Terminal 3, the vaccines were brought to Villamor Air Base’ Kalayaan Hall for a simple ceremony with President Rodrigo R. Duterte. From Villamor, the vaccines will be transported to Metropac, Marikina City.
Distribution will immediately commence after repackaging.
The National Immunization Technical Advisory Group is currently finalizing the priority list for this batch of vaccines.
The vaccines were developed in South Korea, and have been donated by the following countries:
- ○ Germany
- ○ EU
○ Norway - ○ France
○ Italy
○ Spain
○ Netherlands ○ Sweden
○ Denmark
○ Belgium
○ Austria
○ Greece
Read full article on BusinessMirror
