The COVID-19 Vaccine Research Consortium, a Path to Open Borders and Reactivate Tourism
Dr. Digna Wong Torres
On different media platforms many times it is heard or read about this organization, creating a lot of interest on citizens on its work and the benefits that as a country can be received. This special Resort dives into the most valuable aspects that as a country will help us return to normality faster.
The COVID-19 Panama Vaccine Research Consortium is created with the endorsement of the National Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat, to identify and develop vaccine initiatives for the COVID-19 disease in Panama, through a group of work that has the human capacity, infrastructure and experience in the implementation and conduction of clinical studies. It is made up of the Institute for Scientific Research and High Technology Services (INDICASAT-AIP) and the CEVAXIN Research Center.
Dr. Digna Yimara Wong Torres, who is Coordinator of the Clinical Research Center and Translational Medicine and member of the Panama COVID-19 Vaccine Research Consortium, comments that they have made contacts to develop two phase 2 projects, in which one they hope to start in August, and the second one between September and October. Once both are evaluated and approved by the National Research Bioethics Committee.
According to Dr. Wong, Panama is being considered thanks to local regulation, its scientific human professionals, its high-level research centers, the quality of research carried out locally, and the participation in numerous pioneering scientific studies to evaluate the safety, immunogenicity, reactogenicity and efficacy of various vaccines (HPV, rotavirus, meningococcus, influenza, contribute to the global eradication of poliomyelitis and pneumococcus) whose results have been published in prestigious international medical and scientific journals.
Consortium Benefits
There are countless reasons that make this consortium an important element that will deliver benefits on multiple levels. For Dr. Wong, Panama’s participation in vaccine research studies is key for several reasons:
• Offers access to safety and immunogenicity data in the population, to be sure that the behavior is similar to other parts of the world.
• It allows to know the products before they are licensed, their characteristics and handling. It facilitates its application and safe use on people.
• Facilitates the performance of a large-scale study that impacts positively on the behavior of the pandemic in the country, an example: reducing the number of cases and deaths.
• Saves money since these studies when financed by the ONG’s or pharmaceutical companies, do not generate any bills for the country.
Benefits for Tourism
The opening of borders is a priority both locally and internationally for the reactivation of the economy in all its areas, especially tourism. Dr. Wong explains that after citizen health, economic is another reason for obtaining a safe and effective vaccine that would offer the opportunity to gradually reestablish the economy in the tourism sector, which has proven to be a driver of development and growth worldwide. Dr. Wong adds that despite all the scientific efforts to find the vaccine, humanity will have to reinvent itself in all aspects, and that in the case of the tourism industry it will be necessary to implement security protocols and fully comply with all measures that are established, including more technological tools that allow organizing, planning of trips, visits to different destinations, optimally coordinating operations in hotels, restaurants, etc.
Vaccine Will Allow a Return to Normal
The COVID-19 epidemic was declared a public health emergency by WHO (World Health Organization). Covid-19 is here to stay, and it is time to live, adapt and carry out usual activities taking into account strict prevention measures. However, for Dr. Wong, the possibility of having an effective and safe vaccines will allow a more secure return to normal and thus reactivate and strengthen the country’s economy, improve the work and income of many families that have been heavily affected by the Pandemic. It will also allow the opening of borders safely and will resume tourism activities that have been impacted on a large scale.
The Consortium continues to manage to be part of the global clinical studies of COVID-19 vaccines and participate in the different clinical trials that different universities, foundations and pharmaceutical companies producing vaccines are carrying out to obtain data from the population that contribute information to these investigations. that supports the efficacy and safety of these vaccines.
