COVID-19 Vaccine Developments in the Philippines

AmCham Philippines

AmCham came to life in 1902 as the Manila Coffee Round Table and later as Manila Merchants Association. Incorporated in 1920, it has since then recognized and reconfirmed the commitment of American business to the development and welfare of the Philippines and the Filipino people.

This is a commitment of long-standing, as its mission statement declares:

The Chamber exists to serve the interests of U.S. businesses through the participation of members in promoting their long-term objectives while contributing to the civic and economic development of the Philippines.”

Event Details

It has been almost 4 months since the beginning of the spread of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from Wuhan, China to the rest of the world. To date, there have been over one million reported COVID-19 cases worldwide—and the numbers are continuously growing. It has affected not only individual lives but it has also caused business operations to halt and schools to temporarily close.

The absence of proven medication to counter the virus is also a factor in its rapid transmission. Medicines for other conditions are being suggested but the World Health Organization continues to warn the public against these fake remedies while reiterating that "currently there is no specific medicine recommended to prevent or treat the new coronavirus".

Identifying the genetic material of SARS-COV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is a breakthrough that will help pharmaceutical companies or academic institutions develop a vaccine soon. The whole world is in anticipation for this development although the WHO continues to clarify that an approved vaccine can take at least 18 months for production and distribution.

Moving forward, it is crucial for the private sector to understand the timeline of vaccine development. A clear roadmap will help businesses create better risk mitigation plans, form more informed business forecasts, and produce a feasible timeline for the resumption of business operations. However, for countries like the Philippines, the problem of cure does not end in finding a vaccine for COVID-19. It is equally essential for Filipinos to regain trust in vaccination and support it to finally put an end to the disease.

In this regard, AmCham Philippines invites you to a webinar entitled "COVID-19 Vaccine Developments in the Philippines" on April 7 (Tuesday), 10 AM wherein we will discuss about the trends on COVID-19 and the recent developments regarding vaccination.

The webinar also aims to touch upon the following points:

• Timeline of COVID-19 vaccination development, especially for business continuity and forecasting;

• Ongoing initiatives of the public health and pharmaceutical sector in response to COVID-19;

• Identify and debunk myths around medication, vaccination, and antivirals;

• The role of trust in medical science and biotech to battle against COVID-19.

Speaker

Dr. Aileen Dualan

Regional Medical Director of Merck Sharp and Dohme

Dr. Jean-Antoine Zinsou

General Manager at Sanofi Pasteur

Aileen Dualan is the Global Medical Affairs lead for MSD in Asia Pacific. A physician by training, she also spent 10 years in an academic and research setting in Chicago, Illinois, and Baltimore, Maryland.

She then transitioned to the pharmaceutical industry by working with Pharmacovigilance and Medical Affairs in the Philippines before moving to Singapore in 2010. She has led various regional Medical Affairs functions, first at Abbott, then Novartis, and now MSD, which she joined in 2016.

Dualan received her medical degree from the University of the Philippines. She is also board-certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and has advanced training in infectious diseases, microbiology, public health, and epidemiology.

Jean-Antoine Zinsou is a physician by training, specializing in emergency medicine and catastrophe management. He has been working in the field of vaccines and vaccination for more than fifteen years, five of which he was in charge of the Sanofi Pasteur Regional office for French-Speaking Africa, and three years leading the activities of Sanofi Pasteur in South Africa.

During the eight years that Dr. Zinsou spent in Africa, he worked actively to improve the vaccination coverage rate, thus contributing to better protection of African children against vaccine-preventable diseases. In 2013, he joined the Sanofi Pasteur Global Team dedicated to the dengue vaccine development.

As a member of the Sanofi Pasteur Global Public Affairs and Advocacy Team, he has been instrumental in the publication of the World Health Organization position paper which is providing some guidance on the use of the first dengue vaccine.

Discover and connect with other attendees.

MMMC

Non-Members

For non-member company representatives or additional guests of AmCham members.

Standard Price: ₱500 + 10% | $11.00
-For online payments through credit card or Paypal, with an additional tariff due to service charge.

Standard Price₱500

Standard Price$11