Sputnik V 95% effective – Russia
Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine is 95 percent effective based on its second interim analysis of clinical trial data, its manufacturer announced on Tuesday. The vaccine would be administered in …
Health and Medicine
FDA issues warning against unregistered medicines, disinfectants, beauty products
The Food and Administration (FDA) issued a warning against the purchase and use of unregistered beauty products, medicines, and disinfectants that may have potential hazards. On Monday, FDA released a …
Vaccines allegedly injected to 2 solons not from gov’t – Palace
Malacañang clarified Monday the supposed COVID-19 vaccines allegedly given two lawmakers did not come from the government. “Kung mayroon hong ibang mga tao na nakapagbakuna na, hindi po iyan galing …
DOH warns against unregistered COVID-19 vaccines
The Department of Health (DOH) warned the public against manufacturers and distributors selling unregistered COVID-19 vaccines, amid reports that there are already two lawmakers that received the vaccine. “Paalala po …
Gov’t needs at least P30B for COVID-19 immunization in 2021 – Drilon
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said on Monday that the government needs a minimum budget of P30 billion to implement COVID-19 immunization in 2021. “We need P30 billion to inoculate …
COVID-19 vaccines for up to 60% of population eyed
The government eyes to initially give COVID-19 vaccine shots to around 50% to 60% of the Philippine population, according to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Friday. “We initially costed …
PH assured to get 30-50 million COVID-19 vaccines – Galvez
Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said Thursday the Philippines would be assured to get 30 to 50 million COVID-19 vaccines from drugmakers in China, United Kingdom, and the United States …
Duterte approves EO for COVID-19 vaccine emergency use
President Rodrigo Duterte, “in principle,” has approved the recommendation of the Department of Health (DOH) to issue an executive order for COVID-19 vaccine emergency use in the country. Palace spokesperson Harry …
Hontiveros: Make PhilHealth’s 144 dialysis sessions permanent
Senator Risa Hontiveros said Thursday that Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) should make its expanded dialysis session to be a permanent policy. The state insurer extended its coverage of hemodialysis …
COVID-19 vaccines storage, distribution not included in 2021 budget – senator
Senator Pia Cayetano said that the storage and distribution cost of COVID-19 vaccines were not included in the proposed P212.7-billion budget for 2021. During the budget deliberations, Cayetano said the …
Pfizer ends vaccine trial with 95% efficacy
Pfizer Inc. announced on Wednesday that it completed the late-stage trial of its COVID-19 and final results showed 95% efficacy. The drugmaker added it had the required two-months of safety …
US commits to give Philippines vaccine access
The United States expressed its commitment to give the Philippines access to COVID-19 vaccines after American pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna reported positive results from its late-stage vaccine trial. Presidential …
Evacuees to be tested using COVID-19 antigen tests – Palace
The government will use COVID-19 antigen tests for screening evacuees to prevent the virus’s spread in the typhoon-hit areas, Malacañang said Tuesday. However, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque could not specify which …
Moderna vaccine 94.5% effective – chairman
Moderna Inc announced its Moderna vaccine was 94.5% effective in a preliminary analysis of a large late-stage clinical trial. Noubar Afeyan, Moderna co-founder and chairman, discusses the company’s new data, …
World’s richest nations already bought 80% of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine
The richest countries in the world already bought over 80 percent of US pharmaceutical company Pfizer’s potential COVID-19 vaccine, an analysis of a UK campaign group said. The Global Justice …
DOH to public: Temper expectations on Pfizer vaccine
The Department of Health (DOH) urged the public to temper expectations on a potential COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, which is said to 90% effective. “Hindi naman kailangang …
Duque hopes PH will not suffer same fate as Europe
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III reminded the public on Tuesday not to be complacent amid the country’s downtrend of COVID-19 cases. Duque said that while the Department of Health (DOH) …
Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine may be approved for emergency use: Palace
There is a good chance that the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech in the United States will be used by the Philippines to prevent coronavirus disease, Malacañang said Tuesday. …
DOST chief hopes WHO solidarity trial in PH will start sooner
Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato Dela Peña said Tuesday that the Philippines is hoping to begin World Health Organization (WHO) Solidarity Trial on potential COVID-19 vaccines sooner. “Iyong WHO Solidarity …
Gov’t eyes $9-B loan for COVID-19 vaccine purchase
The government considers borrowing up to $9 billion (P433.3 billion) from the World Bank to fund the country’s purchase of a potential COVID-19 vaccine. Carlito Galvez Jr., COVID-19 national task …
PhilHealth pays P700M to Philippine Red Cross
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has paid about P700 million of its debt nearly P1 billion debt to the Philippine Red Cross. PhilHealth spokesman Rey Baleña also told Dobol …
Bulk of COVID-19 vaccines to arrive by end-2021 or early 2022 – Galvez
Vaccine czar and National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. said Monday that the bulk of COVID-19 vaccines would be available by the end of 2021 to early …
DOH cautions public in attending holiday activities
The Department of Health (DOH) cautioned the public in attending different activities during the holiday season amid the ongoing threats of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. DOH-Health Promotion Policy and Technology …
COVID-19 vaccination may start by May 2021 – Galvez
Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said Thursday that the government is hoping to start the COVID-19 vaccination in the country by May 2021. “Ang prediction po ng DOST [Department of …
DOH: No rush to buy COVID-19 vaccines
The Department of Health said the government would not rush its purchase of COVID-19 vaccines despite a vaccine czar appointment. According to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, the COVID-19 vaccine …
New Zealand supports euthanasia or mercy killing
The majority of New Zealand people support the law passed by their Congress for euthanasia or mercy killing of a seriously ill patient. Meanwhile, they are leaning toward banning the …