Duterte happy with Covid-19 vaccine progress

President Rodrigo Duterte expressed happiness over the significant progress in the development of a coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine by various countries.

He acknowledged that some vaccine development might have been rushed but emphasized that there are now medicines to combat the virus.

The Philippines is participating in the World Health Organization's "Solidarity Trials" for potential COVID-19 vaccines, with 288 patients enrolled.

Malacañang also welcomed the results of a UK clinical trial on dexamethasone, which was found to have reduced deaths among severely ill Covid-19 patients by 30 percent.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque noted that while dexamethasone is a breakthrough, it is not a "miracle pill" as it only saves about 30 percent of critically ill patients.