The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has approved the inclusion of people from other age groups and with comorbidities, to undergo clinical trials, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Saturday.
“Meanwhile, the IATF, subject to the considerations of the Food and Drug Administration, approved the recommendation for sponsors/trialists to shift their focus towards people of different age groups and people with comorbidities, or the immunocompromised, to be more inclusive in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic,” Roque said in a statement.
The IATF also approved the recommendation to prioritize Phase 3 clinical trials that will enroll volunteers in pediatric age groups (six months-12 years old), the elderly (more than 60 years old), pregnant mothers, patients with immunodeficiency, patients with autoimmune diseases, patients with renal diseases and patients with chronic respiratory diseases.
The IATF also approved the recommendation to consider the application for the conduct of new clinical trials in the general health populations on whether vaccines address the impact of new variants, such as the vaccine is a third dose of a vaccine with Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) in the country, or second generation COVID-19 vaccines under EUA.
The Department of Health (DOH) in June said it was open to the possibility of a clinical trial of COVID-19 vaccines on Filipino children.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the DOH met with the Department of Science and Technology and other experts to discuss possible vaccine trials for kids.
“May mga sinasabi (It was said) that there are these intent coming from some manufacturers to have clinical trials for children here,” Vergeire said at an online briefing.
“Maganda talaga kung meron tayong sarili natin na test or clinical trials na isasagawa para sa ating mga kabataan (It would be good to have our own clinical trials for children),” Vergeire added.
Vergeire said Chinese firm Sinovac was also “contemplating” on revising its clinical trial in the Philippines. Its vaccine was found to be effective in children as young as 3 years old. -MDM, GMA News
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