NextGen Day

To properly respond to future pandemics and other viral infections, the Philippines must invest in its own virology center and vaccine manufacturing capabilities.

Dr. Ted Herbosa, medical adviser of the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19, said during the Laging Handa public briefing on Wednesday that the country had difficulty sourcing vaccines and medical supplies that would protect Filipinos against the highly transmissible coronavirus infection at the start of the pandemic.

“During the pandemic itself, nahirapan tayong mag-source ng vaccines because the vaccines na pinu-produce noong ibang countries ay ginagamit din nila, so hindi pa nila maibenta at ma-export sa atin so medyo naantala iyong vaccine program natin,” H. said.

“So talagang nakita natin na part of national security ang mayroon tayong sariling virology institute at vaccine manufacturing (So we genuinely feel that having our own virology institute and vaccine manufacturing is part of national security),” he continued.

President Rodrigo Duterte had previously urged Congress to pass legislation establishing the Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines (VIP), which was praised by Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato de la Pea, who added that the institute’s creation would also address other viral diseases.

In June of last year, the House of Representatives adopted House Bill 9559 on the second reading, which proposes the establishment of VIP under the Department of Science and Technology, with a planned fund of PHP983 million.

During the epidemic, Herbosa recalls, the authorities had to deal with a significant turnaround time for Covid-19 testing since the samples had to be shipped abroad for analysis.

“So nahuli talaga tayo sa umpisa nitong pandemya, pinapadala pa natin all the way to Australia, at napakatagal nung turnaround time. Whereas, if mayroon tayong Virology Institute, nandudoon na iyong kapabilidad para makapag-test ng bagong developing infectious illnesses (At the outset of the pandemic, we had to send it all the way to Australia, thus we were behind due to the long turnaround time). Whereas, if we had a Virology Institute, we would be able to examine new infectious diseases as they emerge) “he stated

According to Herbosa, the country needs to formalize the construction of a virology center.

“Iyong manpower, iyong scientists, iyong virologists na gagawing specialists diyan ay makakatulong hindi naman sa human diseases, pati sa plant and animal diseases magagamit din iyan,” he continued.

Completely capable

In the same press conference, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire stated that the VIP will collaborate with the Department of Health in illness prevention, control, and monitoring, with the VIP focusing primarily on viral research and vaccine development.

“Ang pangunahin po na magiging benepisyo sa ating mga mamamayan kung tayo ay magkakaroon nitong (The primary benefit that our population will receive if we have the) VIP is that we will be able to produce our locally manufactured vaccines for our children as part of the National Immunization Program,” Vergeire said.

She claimed that Duterte pushed for the establishment of the VIP in order to save money by avoiding purchasing from other countries.

She said that scientists from the University of the Philippines National Institute of Health (UP-NIH) and the DOST’s “Balik (Return)-Scientist” program are perfectly capable of manufacturing such vaccinations.

“Kayang-kaya po ng ating bansa, kayang-kaya po ng ating mga scientists dito po sa Pilipinas ito pong paggawa nitong mga sinasabing vaccines,” said one of the scientists. Not only that, but also studying it pong mga iba’t-ibang organismo na nagku-cause ng mga sakit dito sa ating bansa (Our country can accomplish this; our experts in the Philippines can develop vaccines.) Not only that, but we’re also researching other pathogens that cause disease in our country),” Vergeire explained.

She claims the VIP will be completely capable of creating its own vaccinations that are similar to international standards with the cooperation of the Food and Drug Administration.

“At kung ano po iyong mga kinakailangan na mga highly technological equipment ay magkakaroon din tayo sa ating bansa (And whatever highly technical equipment is required, we will have) so that we can compete with other countries,” Vergeire stated.

Vergeire stated in September 2021 that the VIP will not result in the dissolution of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), saying that the RITM will be placed under the VIP to “broaden their expertise in research and the manufacturing of vaccines.”

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