Thread by @cnnphilippines

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Dr. Lulu Bravo on the arrival of UK COVID-19 variant in PH: It will come, it is not surprising.

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Dr. Bravo: We really need to have protective measures against the virus. But we are not a perfect world, there will be room for this virus to enter our shores.

Dr. Bravo on the UK COVID-19 variant: Viruses have mutations as a form of defense for themselves, to adapt in an environment.

Dr. Bravo: This virus (UK COVID-19 variant) is not deadly, but is more transmissible.

Dr. Bravo: The gov't is trying to do its best. We have a good surveillance system, where all samples are submitted to PH Genome Center.

Dr. Bravo: We are not lacking in experts. We have many scientists, especially those specializing in molecular biology.

Dr. Bravo on China-made Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine with only 50% efficacy rate: I have full confidence on our FDA. The scientists there have experience in assessing the vaccines that will be distributed in our country.

Dr. Bravo: It (Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine) needs a careful investigation of the data. We just need to not believe what we see or hear.

Dr. Bravo: When you have to recommend vaccine, you have to look in the epidemiology or how many COVID-19 cases are in the country.

Dr. Bravo: Safety and efficacy data of some vaccines are done in countries with higher COVID-19 cases, hence the higher efficacy rate reported.

Dr. Bravo on President Rodrigo Duterte being inoculated first with COVID-19 vaccine: It is a good strategy to do. But the FDA still has a final say on the safety of vaccines to be inoculated.

Dr. Bravo: If you have to wait with higher efficacy rate vaccines and will arrive later, how many deaths will we have because of COVID-19? Our enemy is invisible.