Local drug regulators have approved the use of the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine from China for Filipinos below 18 years old.
Health Undersecretary Dr. Myrna Cabotaje said the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the use of the Chinese vaccine on minors on March 11.
“Ang ating FDA ay nagpalabas ng kanyang approved EUA for Sinovac noong March 11 for children six years and above. Kaya ngayon ginagawa na natin iyong implementing guidelines with inputs from our experts, gagamitin na natin iyan for six years and above,” she said in a “Laging Handa” briefing on Tuesday.
Previously, the Philippines only used the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines in its pediatric vaccination program.
“Ang gagamitin ng para sa pediatric pareho lang po ng formulation ng adults, hindi kagaya ng Pfizer na may reformulated kasi spike protein na concentrated, dito sa Sinovac, kung ano iyong dose at saka iyong formulation sa adult iyon din ang dose ng mga bata,” Cabotaje said.
The health undersecretary also said the country had enough stockpiled Sinovac doses for minors.
“We do not need to buy additional Sinovac, we have enough on stock, inaayos lang natin iyong messaging para maintindihan ng tao bakit pareho ang pagbigay ng adult at saka ng children sa Sinovac samantalang sa Pfizer ay iba. So, iyon ang kailangan na mas maganda iyong pag-explain ng ating mga experts at iyong ating mga health workers,” she said. John Ezekiel J. Hirro