India’s Bharat Biotech on Thursday submitted its application for the emergency use of its Covid-19 vaccines in the Philippines, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Wednesday.
“They submitted an application this morning and pre-evaluation is going on,” ABS-CBN News quoted FDA Director General Eric Domingo as saying.
According to vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Jr., Bharat’s vaccines were among the ones the government has been considering for procurement.
The Indian firm has advised people with weak immune systems, allergies and other medical conditions to avoid its Covaxin Covid-19 vaccine.
It also has yet to present efficacy data of its vaccines to regulators.
So far, only Pfizer’s vaccine has been given emergency use authorization in the Philippines.
Applications of AstraZeneca, Gamaleya Institute and Sinovac have yet to be approved by the FDA.
The Philippines has recorded 507,717 Covid-19 cases as of Jan. 21.
Its vaccine rollout aims to inoculate up to 70 million Filipinos by yearend. John Ezekiel J. Hirro