According to a Department of Science and Technology official, vaccine firms and the World Health Organization will cover medical expenses in case some volunteers to their clinical trials experience side effects from COVID-19 vaccine.
In a press briefing on Saturday, DOST Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara said the WHO will pay for the treatment of those who participate in solidarity trials and experience adverse side effects, while vaccine developers will shoulder the costs for those who participate in independent clinical trials and show unfavorable reactions.
“Dito sa… independent clinical trials ang sasagot ay vaccine developer na company, sa WHO [solidarity trials] sasagot ang WHO, mayroon silang global insurance na bibilhin [para] sa mga volunteers at mga nasa trial list,” said Guevara.
Janssen Pharmaceuticals began its clinical trials for the COVID-19 jabs in the country, said the DOST on Friday. In the same briefing, the DOST said WHO was considering choosing three COVID-19 vaccines for its solidarity trials, which have been in discussions since 2020.
Preparations for the COVID-19 vaccine trials of Sinovac and Clover are ongoing.
If some patients experience adverse reactions, vaccine firms will be filing reports to the FDA, who in turn will analyze the information to know the cause of the side effects.
“Kapag nagkaroon ng adverse effect, mag-submit ‘yan ng protocol. Ire-report nila ‘yan sa Food and Drug Administration ng Philippines at ia-analyze at ire-report ‘yan tapos dito sa PH pag may nangyaring ganiyan ‘yung pagho-hospitalize sakaling magka-adverse effect, sagot ‘yan ng kompanyang magko-conduct ng clinical trial,” Guevara said.
