The Philippine government should prioritize its negotiations with Pfizer-BioNTech for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already authorized its emergency use, Senator Grace Poe said on Thursday.
(FACEBOOK / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Poe said the FDA's grant of an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) on Pfizer's vaccines "should prompt the government to immediately negotiate for its purchase and delivery to the Philippines.
"Negotiations with Pfizer should be prioritized over deals with other manufacturers whose products have yet to get FDA's approval," she added.
FDA director-general Rolando Enrique Domingo said on Thursday initial data from ongoing Phase 3 trials showed that Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine yielded an efficacy of 95 percent in the study population and at least 92 percent among all racial groups.
Several groups and lawmakers have questioned the government's alleged preference for the vaccine offered by Chinese drug maker Sinovac Biotech amid doubts on its effectiveness in preventing the novel coronavirus infection.
Poe cited reports that Sinovac's vaccines yielded only a 50-percent efficacy in its clinical trials.
Senators also noted that while Sinovac has yet to apply for an EUA from the FDA, the government already secured 25 million doses of the China-made vaccines, 50,000 of which supposedly set to be delivered in February.
Sinovac submitted its application to the FDA only on Wednesday, January 13.
During the Senate Committee of the Whole hearing last Monday, National Task Force against COVID-19 chief and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said the government is in talks with seven vaccine manufacturers for the purchase of 148 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines. These companies will provide the vaccines supply for the inoculation of 50 to 70 million Filipinos this year, he said.
He said the government targets to acquire some 40 million doses from Pfizer.
"The Filipinos have long waited for a safe and effective vaccine that would give them protection against COVID-19," Poe pointed out.