The government will have to vaccinate around 12 to 14 million people more if it would push through with its plan of inoculating minors against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) by next month, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said.
FDA Director-General Eric Domingo noted that the government will have to vaccinate a significant number of people since the Philippines has a “very young” population.
“Kung halimbawa, magdadagdag tayo ng (For example, if we include) 12 to 17 year olds, then that would be an additional maybe 12 to 14 million ,” Domingo said in a public briefing Monday, Aug. 9.
So far, the Pfizer vaccine is the only COVID-19 vaccine that has been approved by the FDA for use on on individuals 12 years of age and older, he pointed out.
“The Pfizer vaccine has been approved for use on 12 years old and older first by the US FDA, then in Europe, and then here we have already approved it,” Domingo said.
“And it is now currently used in some countries like US and sub-European countries,” he added.
Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez earlier announced that the government plans to vaccinate individuals age 12 to 17 years old by the end of September or early October.
Sinovac
Meanwhile, the FDA chief said the country’s vaccine experts are still conducting an evaluation whether to allow the use of Sinovac Biotech’s coronavirus vaccine on minors.
This, after the Chinese drug firm applied earlier for an amendment to the emergency use authorization (EUA) of its vaccine in order for it to be used on children aged three to 17.
“At this time, it’s still under evaluation and we’re waiting for some word from our vaccine expert panel,” Domingo said.