Vaccines save millions of lives each year. Vaccines work by training and preparing the body’s natural defences - the immune system - to recognize and fight off the viruses and bacteria they target. If the body is exposed to those disease- causing germs later, the body is immediately ready to destroy them, preventing illness.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are currently more than 50 COVID-19 vaccine candidates in trials. Having lots of different vaccines in development increases the chances that there will be one or more successful vaccines that will be shown to be safe and efficacious for the intended prioritized populations.
The Philippine government, as well as various municipalities, have announced their plans to purchase the various vaccines already on the market, the best known ones being Pfizer-BioNtech, Moderna, Astra Zeneca and the controversial Sinovac, and will prioritize the vaccination of people most at risk. These would be the frontline workers, the old and the infirm, to begin with.
When it comes to COVID-19 vaccines, how do we separate fact from rumor? Join infectious diseases expert Dr. Benjamin Co as he discusses what we need to know about the vaccines that will soon become available in the Philippines.