Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte volunteers for trial of Russia-made COVID-19 vaccine

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has said that he would volunteer to take the Russia-made coronavirus vaccine to test it, and the country`s government on Tuesday voiced a readiness to cooperate with Moscow on the vaccine`s clinical trials and production. He also welcomed a supply offer from Moscow that he expects will be free of charge.

"There will be volunteers. Now, when the vaccine arrives, so there will be no talk, I will volunteer to receive it in public. I will be the first to be experimented on," Duterte said during a Monday public address, as quoted by CNN Philippines.

Duterte also reportedly wanted to discuss with Russian President Vladimir Putin how many vaccines against coronavirus would be supplied to the Philippines and how the clinical trials would take place.

Russia expects regulatory approval for a potential COVID-19 vaccine this month and is ready to provide it to the Philippines, or team up with a local firm to mass-produce it.

"I will tell President (Vladimir) Putin that I have huge trust in your studies in combating COVID and I believe that the vaccine that you have produced is really good for humanity," Duterte said on television late on Monday.

Soon after Duterte`s announcement, the Russian Direct Investment Fund said that it was ready to conduct clinical trials of the vaccine in the Philippines.

Moreover, on Tuesday, the president`s administration said that Manila was ready to work on trials, vaccine production, and supply with Moscow.

"The Philippines expresses readiness to work with Russia on clinical trials, vaccine supply, and production, and in other areas which relevant Philippine and Russian institutions deem appropriate in order to cope with this global health emergency," the presidential administration said on Facebook.

The Philippine government also said that the country is continuing to cooperate on the vaccine development with partners from other countries as well.

In July, Duterte made a plea to his Chinese counterpart to make the Philippines a priority if it develops a vaccine, amid concern in developing countries about availability.

Russia's first COVID-19 vaccine was developed jointly by the Moscow-based Gamaleya Research Institute and the Russian Defense Ministry. 

The Philippines has among Asia`s highest numbers of coronavirus infections, which rose to 136,638 on Monday after a record daily jump of 6,958 cases.

Duterte had this month restored a strict lockdown in and around the capital Manila for an initial two weeks, heeding the plea of medical front liners for a "timeout" amid a surge in infections during a period when restrictions were eased.

If the situation becomes a "runaway contagion", Duterte on Monday vowed to mobilise the military to enforce the lockdown.

The lockdown has been among the world`s toughest and Duterte`s opponents and rights groups have voiced concern about his security-centered approach and the conduct of the police.

(With agency inputs)