Raffin

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/137634...opharm-vaccine

He thinks that justifies it!

Duterte still trying to get more help with infrastructure out of China on what he thinks are preferential terms so Sinovac doesn't have to pay any bribes. Cocking a snoot at Western help at the same time as they and the UN continue to criticize him and investigate his past conduct. He will only challenge China in areas like online gaming where he knows people here have become very concerned at what is going on. With a high approval rating many people have obviously bought his argument that the country can do nothing about China's aggressive policies around Philippines territory.

He's even trying to use his threatened termination of the VFA as a lever to get more US vaccine. Problem is they need it!

Gazza-d

And there's China importing 150 million doses of the pfizer vaccine for there officials, only the people get the local vaccine.

abner

What are the prospects (in terms of news coverage and political support) for the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine for the Philippines?

The team behind it have made some serious blunders in their march-to-market in the Western world (e.g. the optimum dosing regimen was discovered by accident, and their communications with non-UK regulators during the mass-trial phase--especially with the FDA in the US--were amateurish at best).

And yet ... in the end it seems quite effective (90%ish with the revised dosing regimen). Plus it's *much* cheaper (at roughly $4USD / dose) than the current leading alternatives, and doesn't require exotic low-temp distribution.

I don't have any skin in the game, but do think of it as a pragmatic option for low-to-middle income countries which lack the specialised distribution infrastructure. (Hell, even the US is having trouble with that, though the orange puffball isn't exactly helping.)

Hence my curiosity about whether it is getting any press coverage (whether positive or negative), or government support, in the Philippines.

Gazza-d

Although they say they have the budget it looks like they are hoping/ expecting to get it for free. I think it will be late 2021 before we see any action, and then not much.

Gazza-d

I don't think the US expects any Oxford until around April time. They have 300 million doses on order.

abner

The US FDA approval timeline for Oxford / Astra Zeneca version is likely to be delayed because of the stuff-ups I alluded to in my earlier post. Basically, it is alleged, the FDA was deservedly miffed because certain adverse events during one of the key early trials were reported to the press before the FDA was informed. If broadly true, not a good way of keeping one of the key national regulators on board with the program...

Meanwhile, that's all been forgiven in the UK, which is about to approve the vaccine, and start administering it, forthwith.

My question was directed towards the Philippines though. Has the OAZ vaccine's reputation recovered enough to be considered a mainstream solution there?

Bealinehx

There has been coverage about OAZ vaccine, but all news seems to have been overridden by the Chinese vaccine smuggling scandal. More so, as the Presidential Protection Group have boasted that they have self inoculated with it.
Personally I think anything meaningful in 2021 is wishful thinking. I have always thought that 2022 was a realistic date for the Land of 7000 islands.
Happy 2021 for one and all keep safe wash your, hands and do not copy all those idiots in Blighty and the Land of The Donald,

Stokkevn

The Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine is obviously the best for the Philippines as it only requires normal fridge temps to keep it in. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require cold temps ( -70/-18 Deg C ) which is most likely beyond the capabilities here, especially in the provinces. Cheap is always attractive unless of course the second most expensive and least effective vaccine provides the best skimming opportunities for gov officials which seems to be favorite vaccine at the moment.

Stokkevn

I saw the interview with the PSG chief on TV this morning, they had the Chinese vaccine back in Sept, which was before the correct dose had been confirmed in the phase 3 trials and 2/3 months before China approved it for emergency use. The PSG chief said they did it to protect the president. As it is a standard type vaccine that gives you a dose of half dead virus so your body produces antibodies against that virus, with the wrong dose you could either end up with either no immune response to the virus or at the other end of the scale full blown COVID-19. Just glad I do not have such fools protecting me. Vaccines should not worry most of us anyway as the first really effective vaccines will not be arriving here until the late 2021.

Gazza-d

There bave been reports of Chinese worker previously vacinated catching covid in numbers in Africa.