IATF tells LGUs to prioritize WHO Solidarity Trial over independent trials

August 21, 2020

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has approved the guidelines on the conduct of trials for coronavirus disease vaccines, one of which is for the local government units to prioritize the World Health Organization-led trial over independent trials.

In an interview over state-run PTV4 on Friday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, citing the IATF Resolution No. 65 approved in a meeting on August 20, said all applications for clinical trials should first be submitted to the Vaccine Expert Panel, reviewed by designated Ethics Boards and submitted to the Food and Drug Administration for review and approval for conduct of clinical trials.

"Local government units should prioritize World Health Organization Solidarity Trial over independent trials," IATF said.

The task force said the zoning guidelines on vaccine clinical trials must be issued by the sub-Technical Working Group on Vaccine Development to avoid competition for sites.

It also directed the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board to review the Ethical Guidelines for the COVID-19 clinical trials and standardize compensation of trial participants for WHO Solidarity Trial and independent clinical trials.

Under the WHO Solidarity Trial, the three drugs being eyed as possible treatment for COVID-19 are remdesivir, ritonavir-lopinavir, and ritonavir-lopinavir with interferon beta.

The IATF also recognized the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction or the Listahan of the Department of Social Welfare and Development by the IATF Technical Working Group as a critical government service.

Thus, it said surveyors, enumerators, and/or supervisors of the DSWD Regional Offices are considered authorized persons outside of residence and should be allowed inter-zonal and intrazonal travel in such mode and/or manner as may be available especially in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

The IATF also adopted as a national policy the directive to all provincial governors, city and municipal mayors, and punong barangays to accept, receive, and undertake all necessary actions to manage returning residents of their respective jurisdictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Celerina Monte/DMS