Philippines needs new COVID vaccines as FLiRT variants spread: DOH
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Philippines needs new COVID vaccines as FLiRT variants spread: DOH
Healthcare workers in San Juan City participate in the vaccination rollout to launch the bivalent COVID-19 vaccinations for the A1 category at the FilOil EcoOil Centre. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File
Healthcare workers in San Juan City participate in the vaccination rollout to launch the bivalent COVID-19 vaccinations for the A1 category at the FilOil EcoOil Centre. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/FileMANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said COVID-19 shots, including the primary series and boosters that most Filipinos received, still provide "residual immunity".
MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said COVID-19 shots, including the primary series and boosters that most Filipinos received, still provide "residual immunity".
The DOH made the statement following the emergence of new variants under monitoring KP.2 and KP.3, which researchers dubbed as "FLiRT" to describe amino acid changes in the spike protein of the COVID-19 virus.
The DOH made the statement following the emergence of new variants under monitoring KP.2 and KP.3, which researchers dubbed as "FLiRT" to describe amino acid changes in the spike protein of the COVID-19 virus.
"Hindi na siya kasing lakas as noong para sa Alpha and the Delta - na iyon iyong mga original na variants, pero meron pa rin tayong residual immunity. Kumbaga iyong natitira - iyan sa Tagalog - natitirang immunity na kailangan palakasin na natin uli," DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo.
"Hindi na siya kasing lakas as noong para sa Alpha and the Delta - na iyon iyong mga original na variants, pero meron pa rin tayong residual immunity. Kumbaga iyong natitira - iyan sa Tagalog - natitirang immunity na kailangan palakasin na natin uli," DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo.
(It’s not as severe as the Alpha and Delta variants but we still have residual immunity from the vaccines. We need to strengthen the remaining immunity.)
(It’s not as severe as the Alpha and Delta variants but we still have residual immunity from the vaccines. We need to strengthen the remaining immunity.)
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"Kailangan na nating magkaroon noong mga bagong bakuna," he told ABS-CBN News in a phone interview.
"Kailangan na nating magkaroon noong mga bagong bakuna," he told ABS-CBN News in a phone interview.
(We need new COVID vaccines.)
(We need new COVID vaccines.)
WHO NEEDS IT?
If the Philippines scores the reformulated vaccines, which have active components that are meant for the latest variants, who would be able to get these?
If the Philippines scores the reformulated vaccines, which have active components that are meant for the latest variants, who would be able to get these?
"Depende doon sa severity. Nakita natin iyong KP.2 and KP.3, which are the proper names for the FLiRT variants... based on data from Singapore, based also on data from other countries, hindi sila severe. It's mostly cough and colds. Pag tayo kasi ay magsasabi na bibili tayo ng marami uli na bakuna, ibang usapin iyon. So ibig sabihin gagastos tayo ng bilyon-bilyong piso na naman," Domingo explained.
"Depende doon sa severity. Nakita natin iyong KP.2 and KP.3, which are the proper names for the FLiRT variants... based on data from Singapore, based also on data from other countries, hindi sila severe. It's mostly cough and colds. Pag tayo kasi ay magsasabi na bibili tayo ng marami uli na bakuna, ibang usapin iyon. So ibig sabihin gagastos tayo ng bilyon-bilyong piso na naman," Domingo explained.
(It depends on the severity. We have seen with KP.2 and KP.3, which are the proper names for the FLiRT variants, based on data from Singapore and other countries, it’s not severe – it’s mostly cough and colds. If we say we will purchase new vaccines, it’s another story. That means we will have to spend billions again.)
(It depends on the severity. We have seen with KP.2 and KP.3, which are the proper names for the FLiRT variants, based on data from Singapore and other countries, it’s not severe – it’s mostly cough and colds. If we say we will purchase new vaccines, it’s another story. That means we will have to spend billions again.)
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"And saan natin kukunin iyon? Sinong babawasan natin: si tusperina, si tigdas, si tuberculosis? So we have to make that decision. And also another option is baka naman hindi lahat kailangang bigyan. Baka iyong high risk lang. But what's important is iyong mga bagong bakuna maipasok na natin sa Pilipinas," he added.
"And saan natin kukunin iyon? Sinong babawasan natin: si tusperina, si tigdas, si tuberculosis? So we have to make that decision. And also another option is baka naman hindi lahat kailangang bigyan. Baka iyong high risk lang. But what's important is iyong mga bagong bakuna maipasok na natin sa Pilipinas," he added.
(Where will we get the funding? Which vaccines will be defunded – pertussis, measles, tuberculosis? We have to make the decision. Another option is to not give everyone vaccine, may just those who are high-risk. But what’s important is to bring the new vaccines here in the country.)
(Where will we get the funding? Which vaccines will be defunded – pertussis, measles, tuberculosis? We have to make the decision. Another option is to not give everyone vaccine, may just those who are high-risk. But what’s important is to bring the new vaccines here in the country.)
The official shared this can be possible through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where manufacturers can apply for Certificate of Production Registration (CPR).
The official shared this can be possible through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where manufacturers can apply for Certificate of Production Registration (CPR).
Should this happen, both the public and private sectors can have access to the new vaccines.
Should this happen, both the public and private sectors can have access to the new vaccines.
"As we speak, wala tayo niyan sa Pilipinas... Wala pang sufficient na datos para malaman kung okay na sila, or baka iyong mga manufacturer gagawa sila ng bago uli, or baka hindi sila gumawa," Domingo said.
"As we speak, wala tayo niyan sa Pilipinas... Wala pang sufficient na datos para malaman kung okay na sila, or baka iyong mga manufacturer gagawa sila ng bago uli, or baka hindi sila gumawa," Domingo said.
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(As we speak, we don’t have that here in the Philippines. There is no sufficient data to determine whether they work or if the manufacturers need to create a new vaccine or not.)
(As we speak, we don’t have that here in the Philippines. There is no sufficient data to determine whether they work or if the manufacturers need to create a new vaccine or not.)
"Eh kung marami namang gobyerno ang nagsasabi na mild naman iyong kaso at mawawala lang rin siya, hindi na gagastos iyong mga manufacturer para gumawa ng bagong strain, or aantayin nila iyong datos doon sa existing na mga bakuna, iyong pinaka-latest," he added.
"Eh kung marami namang gobyerno ang nagsasabi na mild naman iyong kaso at mawawala lang rin siya, hindi na gagastos iyong mga manufacturer para gumawa ng bagong strain, or aantayin nila iyong datos doon sa existing na mga bakuna, iyong pinaka-latest," he added.
(If many countries determine that the cases are mild and will eventually go away, the manufacturers don’t have to spend much to create a new vaccine strain or will just have to evaluate the efficacy of the latest vaccines.)
(If many countries determine that the cases are mild and will eventually go away, the manufacturers don’t have to spend much to create a new vaccine strain or will just have to evaluate the efficacy of the latest vaccines.)
COVID AND FLU VACCINES
Domingo reiterated that while the DOH is not alarmed over the new variants, it remains "on alert".
Domingo reiterated that while the DOH is not alarmed over the new variants, it remains "on alert".
"Pero iyong flu vaccine available sa private sector, pwede kang pumunta sa botika, makakabili ka. Iyon ang future ng COVID-19, parang nandiyan na siya. Isa siya doon sa mga tinatawag na endemic diseases. Hindi na siya deadly," he said.
"Pero iyong flu vaccine available sa private sector, pwede kang pumunta sa botika, makakabili ka. Iyon ang future ng COVID-19, parang nandiyan na siya. Isa siya doon sa mga tinatawag na endemic diseases. Hindi na siya deadly," he said.
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(The flu vaccine available to the private sector can be bought from the pharmacies. That is the future of COVID-19. It is now among the endemic diseases, it’s not as deadly.)
(The flu vaccine available to the private sector can be bought from the pharmacies. That is the future of COVID-19. It is now among the endemic diseases, it’s not as deadly.)
The official shared how flu vaccines - which are available in some health centers and in the private sector - can complement preventive measures for COVID-19 and other variants, along with practicing minimum health standards.
The official shared how flu vaccines - which are available in some health centers and in the private sector - can complement preventive measures for COVID-19 and other variants, along with practicing minimum health standards.
"Ang pagbakuna laban sa trangkaso ay hindi laban sa COVID-19. Ngunit ang bakuna laban sa trangkaso ay makakabawas sa ubo at sipon, na baka mapagkamalang COVID-19. So kung tayo ay nabakunahan laban sa trangkaso, mas kumpiyansa tayo na kung tayo ay para bang lalabas, hindi tayo basta-basta uubuhin at sisipunin," he said.
"Ang pagbakuna laban sa trangkaso ay hindi laban sa COVID-19. Ngunit ang bakuna laban sa trangkaso ay makakabawas sa ubo at sipon, na baka mapagkamalang COVID-19. So kung tayo ay nabakunahan laban sa trangkaso, mas kumpiyansa tayo na kung tayo ay para bang lalabas, hindi tayo basta-basta uubuhin at sisipunin," he said.
(The flu vaccine does not work against COVID. However, flu vaccine can minimize the symptoms of cough and colds, which can be mistaken for COVID. So if we are vaccinated against flu, we are more confident we will not contract cough and colds easily.) .
(The flu vaccine does not work against COVID. However, flu vaccine can minimize the symptoms of cough and colds, which can be mistaken for COVID. So if we are vaccinated against flu, we are more confident we will not contract cough and colds easily.) .
Can the public expect a new batch of COVID vaccine supply any time soon?
Can the public expect a new batch of COVID vaccine supply any time soon?
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"Ang importante dyan na is iyong maipasok natin sa merkado. So dapat ating parang hikayatin iyong ating mga manufacturers ng mga bagong COVID vaccine. If you ask us, mas prefered na namin iyong bago kasi iyong luma... parang hindi na kasi updated iyong strains noon. Doon na tayo sa mga bagong variants," Domingo explained.
"Ang importante dyan na is iyong maipasok natin sa merkado. So dapat ating parang hikayatin iyong ating mga manufacturers ng mga bagong COVID vaccine. If you ask us, mas prefered na namin iyong bago kasi iyong luma... parang hindi na kasi updated iyong strains noon. Doon na tayo sa mga bagong variants," Domingo explained.
(It is important that we get the new vaccines in the market. So we need to encourage the manufacturers to create new vaccines. If you ask us, we prefer the new shots since the strains in the present vaccines are not updated. We need to include the new variants.)
(It is important that we get the new vaccines in the market. So we need to encourage the manufacturers to create new vaccines. If you ask us, we prefer the new shots since the strains in the present vaccines are not updated. We need to include the new variants.)
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