Indian vaccine maker vows PH access to COVID-19 vaccine once available

FILE PHOTO: A research scientist works inside a laboratory of India’s Serum Institute, the world’s largest maker of vaccines, which is working on vaccines against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Pune, India, May 18, 2020. REUTERS/Euan Rocha

MANILA, Philippines — Indian pharmaceutical company Serum Institute of India (SII), said to be the world’s largest vaccine producer, has committed to making available the vaccine against the coronavirus in the Philippines once it is developed.

Local pharmaceutical distributor Faberco Life Sciences Inc. said Wednesday they have been authorized by SII to supply the COVID-19 vaccine it is developing with American vaccine development firm Novavax.

“The President himself has expressed doubts if the Philippines will get vaccines being developed in the West. If and when the vaccine becomes available, SII and Faberco hope to bring a pleasant surprise,” Faberco Life Sciences medical director Dr. Luningning Villa said in a statement.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier slammed pharmaceutical firms in Western countries for asking for advance payment on their yet-to-be-developed COVID-19 vaccines.

SII and Novovax’s vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, will start its third phase of vaccine trials in the U.S. this month.

Their vaccine being developed received a “fast-track” status by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Villa said it has previously partnered with SII as a distributor of their products like the polio vaccine and the rotavirus vaccine.

“SII has become a supplier of choice for those looking for high-quality vaccines and India has a good track record and enjoys a high level of trust,” Villa assured.

EDV