IATF approves PH participation in COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) approved the Philippines' participation in clinical trials for potential COVID-19 vaccines.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III announced that China invited the Philippines to participate in a global trial, and IATF Resolution No. 39 lists collaborating organizations from Taiwan and China.

The resolution authorizes four groups – Adimmune Corporation, Academia Sinica, Chinese Academy of Science - Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health, and SinoPharma - Wuhan Institute of Biological Products and Beijing Institute – to conduct the trials in the Philippines.

A sub-technical working group chaired by DOST is tasked with coordinating these efforts with DOH, FDA, Research Institute of Tropical Medicine, and WHO.