By Deighton Acuin
 |
| PHOTO: Rappler |
If the government will choose coronavirus vaccines with low
efficacy rate, it may discourage the public to get vaccinated, Vice President
Leni Robredo said on Sunday.
“Kasi, Ka Ely [Saludar], iyong pinakamahirap diyan… ang
pinaka-kampanya nga natin iyong confidence, ‘di ba, iyong tiwala sa bakuna.
Kapag alam ng tao na ang baba ng efficiency o effectivity ng vaccine na ito,
‘di ba, mababa din iyong tiwala,” Robredo said over her radio program,
“BISErbisyong Leni” at RMN-dzXL 558 kHz, when sought for comment about the
government’s decision to choose China vaccine Sinovac, which has 50 percent
efficacy rate.
“Pero kapag alam niya na itong klaseng vaccine na ito,
ganito iyong level ng effectivity, ito iyong mga nakuha noong mga kung sino,
saang mga bansa, mas tataas iyong tiwala niya sa bakuna, mas maraming
magpapabakuna. Pero kung alam na, Ka Ely, na iyong level of effectivity nito
mababa, lalong mahihirapan tayong magkampanya na mas maraming tao iyong
magpabakuna,” Robredo added.
Robredo said even Chinese vaccines are still acceptable, the
government must still provide an explanation on why it still preferring Chinese drugmaker's vaccine than that of vaccines with higher efficacy rate.
“Lalo na kasi, gaya nga ng sabi ko, Ka Ely, na marahil totoo
na iyong 50 [percent] acceptable na iyon, pero mahirap kasing ipaliwanag na
mayroong iba in the market na mas mura, mas mataas nang di hamak iyong level of
[efficacy] —iyong pipiliin natin na mas mahal, mas mababa. Tingin ko, Ka Ely,
kailangan ma-explain iyon. Kailangan ma-explain iyon sa tao, bakit ganoon,” she
said.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) earlier said
the efficacy rate of Sinovac vaccine is still acceptable since it is within the
requirements imposed by World Health Organization (WHO).
As per report by Senate Finance Committee Chairperson
Senator Sonny Angara, Sinovac ranked 2nd from most expensive COVID-19 drug with
P3,629 for two doses per individual.
However, vaccines developed by U.S. companies have higher efficacy rates namely Pfizer at 95 percent and Moderna at 94 percent.
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