THE Philippines should not limit itself to vaccines in fighting the pandemic, but also tap the locally-available virgin coconut oil (VCO) as an effective therapy against Covid-19, an advocate of the substance said.
VCO Philippines president Marco Reyes suggested this amid the emergence of a mutation of the coronavirus, saying that the benefits of VCO have been proven in clinical studies by the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Institute (DOST-FNRI), according to the Inquirer.net portal.
Reyes, who is also vice chair of the United Coconut Associations of the Philippines, said VCO is an antiviral functional food not only against Covid-19, but also against the "broad spectrum" of viruses that afflicts humans.
"We already have medical evidence on its safety and efficacy.
"Vaccines are specific to the virus. When the virus mutates, the vaccine becomes ineffective. And new vaccines need to be developed," Reyes said in a statement.
Dr Ed Lalusis, the patented inventor of VCO (Growrich) in capsule form, echoed the sentiment, urging the government task force leading the country's pandemic response to include the promotion of VCO as a preventive therapy.
"We're asking the government to include VCO as an additional regiment to prevent the spread of the virus.
"Anyway, this is already supported by DOST studies," said Lalusis, who is a retired general surgeon.
Reyes, a licensed chemical engineer, reasoned that tapping the therapeutic benefits of VCO, especially against the new mutation of the virus, could ease concerns on a surge of Covid-19 cases, especially with the long wait for the foreign-manufactured vaccines.
"Mass vaccination in the Philippines is still 'too near and yet too far.'
"Government estimate is the third quarter of 2021, and they will prioritise frontliners, senior citizens, the very poor. How about the vast majority of Filipinos?" Reyes asked.
Meanwhile, Albay Rep Joey Salceda said the healthcare system should brace for contagious mutations and their possible entry.
"The virus has mutated in the United Kingdom. That's normal, because viruses always mutate.
"At some point, it may even mutate domestically in the Philippines. Because we know it will happen, we must prepare for it," he said.