The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine developed by China's Sinovac Biotech is only recommended to healthy individuals aged 18 to 59 as indicated in the current available data of the vaccine, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clarified on Friday, March 19.
FDA Director-General Rolando Enrique Domingo said that the Sinovac vaccine is not recommended to 60 years old and above as indicated in its emergency use authorization (EUA).
Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr on March 17 said that they are eyeing to give the China-made vaccine to senior citizens because of its "minimal adverse effects."
"It will be up to the manufacturer, and the distributor of Sinovac to provide data that will show that they have tried it in people who are above 60 years old, and that it is safe for them," said Domingo in a press briefing on Friday, March 19.
"Once they do that, once they submit all of the scientific data and the evidence, then we can always revise the EUA. But at this time, we have not received this evidence so the approved indication is for people who are 18 to 59 years," he added.
"I think Secretary galvez clarified that they are considering using it in older citizens once of course data is already available to show that it is safe and effective in older citizens," he furthered.
Domingo said that vaccines developed by American drugmaker Pfizer, British company AstraZeneca, and Russian firm Gamaleya Research Institute can be administered to senior citizens. These vaccine manufacturers have already secured an EUA with the FDA for their respective COVID-19 vaccines.
"Pfizer is for (aged) 16 and above, AstraZeneca is for 18 and above, and Sputnik is for 18 and above," he said.