Shopee and Taguig LGU Provide Care Packages to Support Vaccination Efforts

MANILA, AUGUST 13, 2021 - Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, teams up with the local government unit (LGU) of Taguig City to provide care packages that can encourage more people to get vaccinated and to express gratitude towards frontliners diligently working at the center. Last July 28-30, Shopee rolled out its vaccination center support initiative in Western Bicutan National High School by giving food, water, and health kits from Shopee and its partner brands under Shopee Mall to 1,500 frontliners, staff, and the people getting vaccinated. These included snacks from Del Monte, Perfetti Van Melle, Dutchmill Soy, Monde Nissin, and Rebisco; water from Hope in a Bottle; health kits from Mighty Clean and Colgate; and industrial fans from Symphony.

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “Shopee is committed to contributing and positively impacting the community. We are proud to partner with the Taguig LGU in their efforts to inoculate their citizens and are grateful to our brand partners who generously lend us their support in serving the Filipinos. We want to play a part in meaningful initiatives such as this especially when the country is still battling the pandemic. We will continue to support the Filipinos and offer them the help that they need.” 

###

About Shopee

Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia & Taiwan. Shopee connects shoppers, brands, and sellers across Asia and other fast-growing markets, empowering anyone to buy and sell anywhere and at any time. 

 

Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. It offers a wide product assortment, supported by integrated payments and logistics, as well as popular entertainment features tailored for each market. Shopee is also a key contributor to the region’s digital economy with a firm commitment to helping brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.

 

Shopee is a part of Sea Limited (NYSE:SE), a leading global consumer internet company. In addition to Shopee, Sea’s other core businesses include its digital entertainment arm, Garena, and digital financial services arm, SeaMoney. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology.

Shopee Offers Users #FullyVaxxed Package to Encourage Filipinos to Get Vaccinated

MANILA, JULY 26, 2021 - Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, launches the #FullyVaxxed Package under Shopee Bayanihan, to provide fully vaccinated Filipinos a special bundle they can use for personal needs and encourage others to complete both doses. Starting today until September 26, 2021, fully vaccinated Filipinos can qualify for the exclusive package that includes free shipping and discount vouchers from Shopee and discount vouchers from brands such as Hygienix, Maxi-Peel, SkinWhite, Splash Personal Care, and Johnson & Johnson. 

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “Shopee is here to support the country’s goal of inoculating as many Filipinos as possible through various initiatives such as our Vaccine Education Campaign, Vaccine Center Support, and now, our #FullyVaxxed Package. This is made possible through our partnerships with leading brands and with the participation of our marketplace sellers who have joined us in this cause to encourage citizens to get vaccinated. We are committed to doing what we can to help the nation stay safe and the Filipino people protected.”

The COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases Resolutions reports that there are more than 15 million doses administered, more than ten million getting their first dose, and 4.7 million Filipinos completing both doses as of mid-July 2021. Although many are open to getting both doses, a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey reveals that vaccine hesitancy is still an issue as most are uncertain of its efficacy and side effects. To encourage Filipinos to get vaccinated, Shopee also partnered with the Department of Health to promote education about COVID-19 vaccines through in-app and social media initiatives.

The #FullyVaxxed Package shows Shopee’s commitment in supporting the nation’s goal of fully vaccinating the Filipino population. Aside from vouchers from leading brands, verified users can also enjoy vouchers from Shopee’s marketplace sellers. Starting today, fully vaccinated Filipinos can avail of the package by signing up on the Shopee Bayanihan: #FullyVaxxed Package microsite in the Shopee App through this link: https://shopee.ph/m/fullyvaxxed-package. 

Steps on how to register and get verified:

1. Sign up on the Shopee Bayanihan: #FullyVaxxed Package microsite (https://shopee.ph/m/fullyvaxxed-package) 

2. Submit a photo of the vaccination card to verify the completion of two doses and a valid ID

3. Wait for the verification from Shopee 

Shop, load, and pay bills with ShopeePay. Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play. 

About Shopee

Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia & Taiwan. Shopee connects shoppers, brands, and sellers across Asia and other fast-growing markets, empowering anyone to buy and sell anywhere and at any time. 

 

Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. It offers a wide product assortment, supported by integrated payments and logistics, as well as popular entertainment features tailored for each market. Shopee is also a key contributor to the region’s digital economy with a firm commitment to helping brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.

 

Shopee is a part of Sea Limited (NYSE:SE), a leading global consumer internet company. In addition to Shopee, Sea’s other core businesses include its digital entertainment arm, Garena, and digital financial services arm, SeaMoney. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology.

Moving the needle: Havas Life tackles COVID vaccine issues

As the Philippines ramps up its vaccination program against COVID 19, the country continues to face several key issues ranging from vaccine hesitancy to the emergence of new COVID variants. In an effort to help move from vaccine hesitancy to vaccine confidence and encourage private companies to take part in advocating vaccination among Filipinos, Havas Life recently hosted “VacciNation: Vaccines for a Healthier Nation.”

The online conversation, part of Havas’ The New Life webinar series, featured Professor Emeritus of University of the Philippines College of Medicine’s Dr. Lulu Bravo, Havas Health & You Global Chief Medical Officer Dr. Suketu Patel, and consumer healthcare expert Dave McCaughan. They each discussed the role of health care professionals in building vaccine resilience in the Philippines and the narrative around vaccination positivity. 

Vaccines as a public health issue

Dr. Lulu Bravo, a leading pediatrician and staunch advocate of vaccination in the country, underlined the importance of discussing vaccines as a public health concern. 

“When you vaccinate an individual, you should emphasize that it is not just the person you are protecting from getting sick. You are preventing the community, their family, their loved ones from being infected.” Dr. Bravo, who leads and co-founded the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination, also reminded Filipinos to not neglect protecting children from vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, dengue, and polio. 

She encouraged the health care sector to take the lead in the issue by building alliances and advocacy as a united voice. “We need to build resilient and sustainable immunization systems and follow-up with programs that can withstand major shocks and maintain high vaccine uptake. We need experts who would respond with empathy, equity, equality, timeliness, honesty, and confidence.”  

“Vaccination is what will drive the end of this pandemic. The goal is to get as many people around the world to be vaccinated as quickly as possible,” said Dr. Suketu Patel who discussed the groundbreaking role of immunology in significantly increasing life expectancy around the world. Dr. Patel said that all vaccines are effective against the emerging COVID-19 variants, which are also more transmissible. 

Creating positive vaccine conversations

All three experts agreed on the importance of framing narratives in order to encourage vaccine confidence, such as positive conversations about vaccines and talking about positive vaccination experiences that focus on facts. “We must understand people’s motivations and frame conversations in ways that matter to them,” stressed Dr. Bravo. “A lot of the factors that lead people to questioning vaccines have nothing to do with the science. We need help to spread correct information. A strong health care recommendation is a powerful predictor of vaccination.”

David McCoughan, of consultancy firm Bibliosexual, shared how analyzing online content can help the health sector and governments better understand people’s sentiments about vaccines. “When it comes to vaccine positivity, we should move from threatening language to encouraging stories. In Southeast Asia for example, we have been seeing a lot of future-proofing trends online. In the Philippines, more people have been looking up online resources such as setting up online businesses and acquiring online certificate courses. We can take advantage of this proactive behavior and create conversations about the COVID vaccine around these topics showing people how to future-proof their lives.” 

Havas Media Ortega’s recent prosumer report on Health and Hygiene also underscored that when it comes to vaccines, doctors are still the primary influencers. The report also showed that 85% of prosumers are willing to get vaccinated despite initial setbacks and 64% are willing to tolerate mild to moderate side effects in exchange for effectiveness. 

About Havas Life

Havas Life is in the business of Life Improvement. Combining strategic insights with medical and scientific expertise for many specialized health and wellness, we create best-in-class work and services. We provide an integrated approach to communication from medical and technical know-how to patient comms, from internal communications to trade.

Shopee and the Department of Health Team Up to Encourage Filipinos to Get Vaccinated

MANILA, JUNE 10, 2021 - Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, partners with the Department of Health (DOH) to promote education about COVID-19 vaccines through in-app and social media initiatives. As the Philippines aims to vaccinate 70% of its population within three to five years, this partnership between Shopee and DOH augments the concerted effort of the private sector and local government units to encourage Filipinos to get vaccinated and protect themselves and their loved ones against COVID-19.  

While the local government rolls out COVID-19 vaccination programs, the vaccine hesitancy rate among Filipinos continues to increase, going from 47% in January 2021 to 61% by the end of the first quarter. They remain resistant to the vaccine due to three key  reasons: concerns about potential side effects, uncertainty about efficacy, and skepticism.

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “Shopee is honored to partner with the Department of Health to educate Filipinos on the importance and benefits of vaccination. Through our collaboration with DOH, we can provide the community with accurate and science-backed vaccine information. With proper education, we aim to raise the public’s awareness and hopefully encourage more people to get vaccinated.”

Beverly C. Ho, MD, MPH, Director IV, at Health Promotion Bureau DOH, said, “This partnership symbolizes what we, in the Health Promotion Bureau, want to do—meet people where they are and make living healthy easy. That's why we are thankful to use Shopee’s platform, one that effectively reaches and engages millions of Filipinos, to make RESBAKUNA reach a wider audience. The immense potential this partnership holds, not only in increasing vaccine confidence but in improving overall health literacy among Filipinos, truly excites us.”

Starting this month until August, users can learn more about vaccines’ safety and effectiveness from DOH and World Health Organization representatives. On June 23, 9:00 PM, users can watch a discussion on “Fake vs Fact on COVID-19 Vaccine Safety and Efficacy” on Shopee Live. Shopee will post helpful information about the vaccines on its official social media pages. A separate microsite will also be available on the Shopee app. 

Visit https://shopee.ph/m/resbakuna-kasangga-ng-bida to stay updated on Shopee’s initiatives against COVID-19. 

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play. 

About Shopee

Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia & Taiwan. Shopee connects shoppers, brands, and sellers across Asia and other fast-growing markets, empowering anyone to buy and sell anywhere and at any time. 

 

Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. It offers a wide product assortment, supported by integrated payments and logistics, as well as popular entertainment features tailored for each market. Shopee is also a key contributor to the region’s digital economy with a firm commitment to helping brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.

 

Shopee is a part of Sea Limited (NYSE:SE), a leading global consumer internet company. In addition to Shopee, Sea’s other core businesses include its digital entertainment arm, Garena, and digital financial services arm, SeaMoney. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology.

Patient Groups Call for ‘Bakuna, Now Na’

June 8, 2021, Manila, Philippines — The Philippine Alliance of Patient Organizations (PAPO), representing 38 patient groups in the country, today launches the “Bakuna, Now Na” campaign in a bid to increase vaccination uptake and decrease hesitancy to help curb the pandemic. The campaign is also in partnership with the Department of Health and is supported by the Department of Science and Technology and the Philippine Medical Association.

The Bakuna, Now Na campaign, an information and education advocacy to increase vaccine acceptance, also kicks off with a Unity Statement with partner groups urging Filipinos to get vaccinated against CoVID-19.

The patient-led campaign also aims to support efforts towards vaccine equity through various initiatives and collaborations with governments, manufacturers and the COVAX facility among other platforms.

“The pandemic has made Filipino patients more vulnerable to sickness and hardships. We urge all Filipinos, including patients and their families, to get vaccinated against CoVID-19 to protect ourselves and others from this potentially life-threatening illness. We also support initiatives to urgently address vaccine inequity and secure vaccine access for Filipinos, including those belonging to priority sectors like patients,” said PAPO President Ms Ma. Fatima Lorenzo.

“The Bakuna, Now Na is a campaign for Filipino patients and by Filipino patients. We aspire that through this campaign, we would help in informing the patients and the public that vaccines are safe and effective having gone through regulatory approvals and scientific research. We are stronger and healthier together, which is why we are calling on everyone to get vaccinated,” said Ms Karen Alparce-Villanueva, PAPO Treasurer and Campaign Project Lead.

A recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey found that only three out of 10 Filipinos are willing to be vaccinated even if they were free and approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Efforts are also underway to identify barriers for the non-vaccination of a number of senior citizens and persons with comorbidities, belonging to the A2 and A3 priority sectors.

Seeing the vast number of Filipinos who are hesitant to get vaccinated, PAPO recognizes the necessity to address the people’s concerns through the Bakuna, Now Na advocacy. The campaign will center on frequently asked questions about CoVID-19 vaccines and dispel myths with verified medical facts. The Bakuna, Now Na is an effort to translate complicated medical terms into easy-to-digest content that will help educate the public.

“The Department of Health is pleased to partner with the Philippine Alliance of Patient Organizations in our effort to increase vaccine confidence and vaccinate more people as soon as possible. We continue to call on patients and our senior citizens to get themselves vaccinated because vaccines are one of the proven ways by which we could prevent this pandemic. Vaccines along with the wearing of face masks, hand washing, and physical distancing will help us move forward safely from this pandemic. Vaccines are safe and effective kaya Bakuna, Now Na,” said Department of Health – Health Promotions Bureau Director Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho.

Dr. Nina Gloriani, chairman of the Department of Science and Technology - Vaccine Expert Panel, is also present during the campaign launch as the advocacy will feature verified information coming from the country’s medical and vaccines experts.

The Bakuna, Now Na campaign is being led by PAPO in partnership with the Department of Health, the Department of Science and Technology, the Philippine Medical Association, the Philippine Pharmacists Association and former Health Secretaries Carmencita Reodica, MD, Esperanza Cabral, MD, Manuel Dayrit, MD, and Janette Garin, MD and 50 other organizations and growing.

According to Rey Sarmenta, the former Chairman of HAPLOS, the Hemophilia Foundation, he got vaccinated because he wanted to protect his family, and getting vaccinated is his chance to enjoy his life with his loved ones.

For Ara Lanorio, President of the Neurofibromatosis Friends Philippines, proper education about vaccines should take priority. She shared her initial concerns about the vaccine and how knowing the facts helped her decide to get vaccinated.

For more information about the campaign or to sign the PAPO Unity Statement, please visit www.papo.ph and PAPO’s FB page.

Pfizer Advances Battled Against COVID-19 on Multiple Fronts

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) recently announced important advances in the battle against the global COVID-19 pandemic.

As outlined in Pfizer’s five-point plan, the company has been collaborating across the healthcare innovation ecosystem ranging from pharmaceutical companies to biotech companies, from government agencies to academic institutions to address the COVID-19 global health care crisis. Researchers and scientists have been relentlessly working to develop an investigational antiviral compound to prevent coronavirus infection (COVID-19), as well as evaluating other therapies that have scientific potential to help infected patients.

“We are committed to making the impossible possible,” said Dr. Albert Bourla, Chairman and CEO. “In the spirit of the Five Point Plan that Pfizer issued, we are facing this public health challenge head on by collaborating with industry partners and academic institutions to develop potential novel approaches to prevent and treat COVID-19. Our researchers and scientists also have been exploring potential new uses of existing medicines in Pfizer’s portfolio to help infected patients globally. We are leaving no stone unturned as we explore every option to help provide society with a treatment or cure.”

• Anti-Viral Compound Screening

Pfizer confirmed a lead compound and analogues are potent inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 3C-like (3CL) protease, based on the results of initial screening assays. Preliminary data suggest the lead protease inhibitor shows antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. The company is also investing in materials that will accelerate a potential clinical study in the third quarter 2020, subject to positive completion of the pre-clinical confirmatory studies.
Applying Pfizer’s Long History in Vaccine Research Development Expertise to Finalize Our 

• Agreement with BioNTech

Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE have entered into a global collaboration agreement to co-develop BioNTech’s potential first-in-class, mRNA-based coronavirus vaccine for preventing COVID-19 infection. In March 2020, the companies began working together after releasing a letter of intent to collaborate. They will conduct clinical trials in the United States and Europe as early as April 2020, assuming regulatory clearance. The companies estimate that there is potential to supply vaccine doses by the end of 2020 subject to technical success and approval of regulatory authorities and then rapidly scale up to capacity to produce million doses in 2021. For the terms of the agreement, please see the press release page of Pfizer’s website.

• Analysis of Azithromycin as an Agent with Antiviral Activity

In an effort to share information that could benefit COVID-19 mitigation efforts, Pfizer researchers will publish a review in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics. This open access review may serve to facilitate the use of azithromycin in future research on COVID-19. Azithromycin is not approved for the treatment of viral infections.

• Studying Pfizer’s Existing Medicines for Critical Patient Populations in Need

Pfizer is also in discussions with other institutions about additional studies including the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine’s Respiratory Infection Clinical Research Group. Two new studies: SAFER study (SARS-CoV-2 Acquisition in Frontline Health Care Workers – Evaluation to Inform Response) and the FASTER study (Facilitating A SARS CoV-2 Test for Rapid triage) will help demonstrate whether patients infected with COVID-19 have a higher risk of also developing pneumococcal pneumonia. The SAFER study will enroll 100 healthcare workers at the Royal Liverpool Hospital while the FASTER study will recruit 400 patients from the infectious disease ward at the Royal Liverpool Hospital suspected of having coronavirus. Enrollment has already begun, and data are expected over the next few months. For more details about the study, please see clinicaltrials.gov.

“While this work can generally take years, we are working to find opportunities to save time wherever we can and work in parallel rather than in a linear capacity,” said Mikael Dolsten, Chief Scientific Officer and President, Worldwide Research, Development & Medical, Pfizer. “This pursuit requires a crucial multi-pronged approach with a deep collaboration and partnership across the health innovation ecosystem – from the academic community, industry partners, policymakers and regulatory bodies. We announced in March that we are collaborating with BioNTech to co-develop a potential first-in-class, mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine. A public threat like coronavirus COVID-19 pushes each of us to urgently bring forward our resources and expertise to overcome this most challenging moment in the medical history of this century.”

The company will continue to share information from its portfolio and emerging candidates that could benefit the many companies and organizations who are working quickly to provide solutions to combat this unprecedented healthcare crisis.

• Pfizer, Inc.: Breakthroughs That Change Patients’ Lives

At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products, including innovative medicines and vaccines. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at www.Pfizer.com. In addition, to learn more, please visit us on www.Pfizer.com and follow us on Twitter at @Pfizer and @Pfizer News, LinkedIn, YouTube and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Pfizer.

SM Supermalls to Waive Tenant Rentals Nationwide

The SM Supermalls announced it will waive rentals to all tenants nationwide from March 16 to April 14, 2020. This is to offer tenants some relief during this trying time, so that they can in turn lend more assistance to their employees during the period of Community Quarantine.

“We share our tenants partners’ concerns at the unfortunate situation and will waive rental charges for those affected and unable to operate during this period,” said SM Supermalls president Steven T. Tan.

This support forms part of SM’s commitment to fight the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak, in addition to its recent announcement that it has allocated PhP100M to provide protective equipment and supplies towards hospitals for the safety of medical front liners, as they actively fight the spread of COVID-19.

For more information about SM, visit www.smsupermalls.com.

Pfizer and BioNTech to Co-Develop Potential COVID-19 Vaccine

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE, “Pfizer”) and BioNTech SE (Nasdaq: BNTX, “BioNTech”) today announced that the companies have agreed to a letter of intent regarding the co-development and distribution (excluding China) of a potential mRNA-based coronavirus vaccine aimed at preventing COVID-19 infection. The companies have executed a Material Transfer and Collaboration Agreement to enable the parties to immediately start working together.

The collaboration aims to accelerate development of BioNTech’s potential first-in-class COVID-19 mRNA vaccine program, BNT162, which is expected to enter clinical testing by the end of April 2020. The rapid advancement of this collaboration builds on the research and development collaboration into which Pfizer and BioNTech entered in 2018 to develop mRNA-based vaccines for prevention of influenza.

“We are proud that our ongoing, successful relationship with BioNTech gives our companies the resiliency to mobilize our collective resources with extraordinary speed in the face of this worldwide challenge,” said Mikael Dolsten, Chief Scientific Officer and President, Worldwide Research, Development & Medical, Pfizer. “We believe that by pairing Pfizer’s development, regulatory and commercial capabilities with BioNTech’s mRNA vaccine technology and expertise as one of the industry leaders, we are reinforcing our commitment to do everything we can to combat this escalating pandemic, as quickly as possible.”

“This is a global pandemic, which requires a global effort. In joining forces with our partner Pfizer, we believe we can accelerate our effort to bring a COVID-19 vaccine to people around the world who need it,” said Ugur Sahin, Co-Founder and CEO of BioNTech.
The companies expect to utilize multiple research and development sites from both companies, including in the United States and Germany, to house the activities identified by the collaboration agreement.

The companies will begin collaborating immediately. They will finalize details of the agreement regarding financial terms, and all activities related to development, manufacturing and potential commercialization over the next few weeks.

On March 13, 2020, Pfizer issued a five-point plan calling on the biopharmaceutical industry to join the company in committing to unprecedented collaboration to combat COVID-19.

About Pfizer: Breakthroughs That Change Patients’ Lives

At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products, including innovative medicines and vaccines. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at www.Pfizer.com. In addition, to learn more, please visit us on www.Pfizer.com and follow us on Twitter at @Pfizer and @Pfizer News, LinkedIn, YouTube and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Pfizer.

Pfizer Disclosure Notice:

The information contained in this release is as of March 17, 2020. Pfizer assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this release as the result of new information or future events or developments.

This release contains forward-looking information about Pfizer’s efforts to combat COVID-19, BioNTech’s potential COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, BNT162, a letter of intent regarding the co-development and co-commercialization (excluding China) by Pfizer and BioNTech of BNT162 and a Material Transfer and Collaboration Agreement, including their potential benefits, and the expected timing of a Phase 1 trial, that involves substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Risks and uncertainties include, among other things, whether and when a definitive agreement will be reached for the co-development and co-commercialization by Pfizer and BioNTech of BNT162 ; uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the ability to meet anticipated clinical endpoints, commencement and/or completion dates for clinical trials, regulatory submission dates, regulatory approval dates and/or launch dates, as well as the possibility of unfavorable new clinical data and further analyses of existing clinical data; the risk that clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations and assessments by regulatory authorities; whether regulatory authorities will be satisfied with the design of and results from the clinical studies; whether and when any biologics license applications may be filed in any other jurisdictions for BNT162 or any other vaccine candidates under the collaboration; whether and when any such applications may be approved by regulatory authorities, which will depend on myriad factors, including making a determination as to whether the product’s benefits outweigh its known risks and determination of the product’s efficacy and, if approved, whether BNT162 will be commercially successful; decisions by regulatory authorities impacting labeling, manufacturing processes, safety and/or other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of BNT162; uncertainties regarding the ability to obtain recommendations from vaccine technical committees and other public health authorities regarding BNT162 and uncertainties regarding the commercial impact of any such recommendations; and competitive developments.

A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in Pfizer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and in its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, including in the sections thereof captioned “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Information and Factors That May Affect Future Results”, as well as in its subsequent reports on Form 8-K, all of which are filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov and www.pfizer.com.

About BioNTech

Biopharmaceutical New Technologies (BioNTech) is a next generation immunotherapy company pioneering novel therapies for cancer and other serious diseases. The company exploits a wide array of computational discovery and therapeutic drug platforms for the rapid development of novel biopharmaceuticals. Its broad portfolio of oncology product candidates includes individualized and off-the-shelf mRNA-based therapies, innovative chimeric antigen receptor T cells, bi-specific checkpoint immuno-modulators, targeted cancer antibodies and small molecules. Based on its deep expertise in mRNA vaccine development and in-house manufacturing capabilities, BioNTech and its collaborators are developing multiple mRNA vaccine candidates for a range infectious diseases alongside its diverse oncology pipeline. BioNTech has established a broad set of relationships with multiple global pharmaceutical collaborators, including Eli Lilly and Company, Genmab, Sanofi, Bayer Animal Health, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Genevant, Fosun, and Pfizer.

For more information, please visit www.BioNTech.de.

Vaccination Myths and Facts

 

You may have completed your vaccinations when you were a child, but do you know that vaccines are not only for kids but for adults, too? Vaccines are among the most cost-effective health interventions available. They help ensure optimum health.

“Vaccines provide heightened protection against diseases, disabilities and even death. They prepare the body to fight diseases without exposing the person to the symptoms. Many believe immunizations are for children only. But you are never too old to get vaccinated. Newer vaccines are being developed and booster shots may be necessary to maintain the efficacy of certain vaccines. Vaccination is important especially if you have a chronic disease, are pregnant, sexually active, or if your work requires you to travel to places where you can be exposed to different diseases,” says MediCard president and CEO Dr. Nicky Montoya.

MediCard, a leading HMO provider in the country, debunks some myths on vaccinations:

Myth: Vaccines are for children only.

Fact: Vaccines don’t offer lifetime immunity to diseases; they stimulate antibody production. Almost all vaccines wear off after 5-10 years. Getting vaccinated as an adult is just as important as getting it when you are young because you might be at risk for a new or different disease. The vaccinations you need are determined by factors such as age, lifestyle, health conditions, travel, and previous immunizations. To find out what vaccines you need, consult your doctor.

Myth: Vaccines are ineffective and harmful.

Fact: Vaccines are effective and safe. They go through comprehensive testing before they are approved for general use. They are also continuously monitored for safety and effectiveness. For those who worry that vaccines will cause serious side effects, Dr. Montoya says such cases are very rare. Normal reactions to vaccination include redness, pain, and swelling in the body part where the shot was given.

Myth: Vaccines weaken the immune system.

Fact: Vaccines actually strengthen the immune system and help fight diseases. Vaccines strengthen the immune system by safely introducing an antigen, a substance that triggers the production of antibodies needed to neutralize viruses and bacteria. Vaccines also stimulate defense mechanisms that provide protection against specific diseases. Fears that vaccines can overload the immune system are unfounded because a healthy person’s immune system can recognize and handle thousands of organisms at once.

                                                                                                                          

Myth: Vaccinations are not needed if you live a healthy lifestyle.

Fact: Good hygiene, a balanced diet and an active lifestyle can help prevent the spread of diseases, but you are still exposed to germs and viruses. This is why getting vaccinated is encouraged, even if you live a healthy lifestyle, as it provides a significant level of protection from diseases.

                                                  

Learn more about vaccinations. MediCard has several free-standing clinics located in key cities nationwide that offer consultations, tests and vaccinations. Visit a MediCard clinic near you or check out their website at www.medicardphils.com for more information.