Senators renew call for virology institute

MANILA, Philippines — Senators renewed their call for the passage of a bill seeking to put up a national virology institute to boost local vaccine development and protect the country from pandemics.

The senators made the call amid the observance of World Immunization Week from April 24 to 30 and the recent increase in COVID-19 cases.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, who authored Senate Bill 941 or the proposed Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines (VIP) Act of 2022, said the COVID-19 pandemic should be a wake-up call for the country, which had to scramble for vaccines.

The bill seeks to create the VIP to serve as the premier research and development institute in the field of virology, encompassing all areas of study of viruses and viral diseases in plants, animals and humans.

Other senators who filed similar bills are Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri (SB 599), Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda (SB 489), Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva (SB 1322), Cynthia Villar (SB 1928), Lito Lapid (SB 1890), Raffy Tulfo (SB 1818), Robin Padilla (SB 1363), Joseph Victor Ejercito (SB 1161), Mark Villar (SB 1130), Bong Revilla (SB 981), Jinggoy Estrada (SB 281) and Bong Go (SB 196).

Bivalent vaccine deal

Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony Leachon, a former adviser to a government COVID task force, said President Marcos should try to secure a supply deal for bivalent COVID-19 vaccines when he meets with United States President Joe Biden in Washington.

Leachon also warned that the positivity rate will continue to rise if the public does not adhere to the minimum public health standards, especially the mandatory wearing of face masks.

“Bivalent vaccines should be part of the long-term strategy. President Marcos should be able to discuss this matter with US President Joe Biden in the President’s visit to the US,” Leachon said.

He said the bivalent vaccines will be able to address the old Wuhan strain and the new subvariants like Arcturus.

Options?

Leachon also said the Food and Drug Administration should approve the certificate of product registration so those willing to be inoculated with this new vaccine will have access to it, like in the US.

He said while he respects DOH policies, the agency “should not turn a blind eye to the fact that mandatory face masks is the only option we have, given the low booster rate that we have as we open the economy.”

“People need definitive solutions.  We can’t control mobility.  But we can wear face masks conveniently to protect the people,” he said.

He said the public must remain vigilant as “complacency hurts or even kills, especially in vulnerable patients.”

“Perhaps the mild symptoms and low hospitalization rate may not be compelling reasons, but a sick workforce might affect productivity in the long run. The quality of life of people will be affected. Long COVID patients will be another problem moving forward,” he said.