VACCINE SAFETY PLEDGE

September 9, 2020

Half a year into the global response to the public health crisis and economic fallout brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the virus from Wuhan, it has become clear that the only long-term solution that will address the large-scale health and economic issues is a safe, effective, and widely deployed vaccine. While methods such as physical distancing, lockdowns, and mask-wearing and other hygiene protocols can mitigate the spread of the virus, we cannot ensure further breakouts without a long-term health solution.

Understandably, the pressure to develop this vaccine is high. With the rise of COVID-related corruption issues, such pressure presents a severe risk to consumers. If pharmaceutical companies and state-owned research and development institutions succumb to outside interests, they could produce vaccines that would provide a false sense of security and are dangerously unsafe.

Despite the pressing need for a vaccine and financial challenges, the vaccine development process must be allowed to continue without undue political pressure. For such a solution to be effective, the vaccine must be developed using rigorous scientific methods, ethical testing standards, and careful observance of protocols in research and development.

We stand in support of the joint VACCINE SAFETY PLEDGE issued by major vaccine developers: Johnson & Johnson, Sanofi, AstraZeneca, BioNTech, Moderna, Pfizer, Novavax, GlaxoSmithKline, and Merck.

CitizenWatch Philippines commends these nine vaccine developers for reiterating their commitment not only to scientific rigor and observance of ethical practices, but a commitment to the welfare of the consuming public in a time when the safety of society as a whole rests on the veracity of the work of the scientific community.