The country's vaccine experts are still studying whether it will recommend or not the use of Sinovac coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine for children, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said.
"Our experts are taking a very close look at the data," said FDA Director-General Rolando Enrique Domingo in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel on Thursday, August 12.
The FDA has so far approved the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children aged 12 to 17, he said.
Last July, China's vaccine maker Sinovac applied for an amendment to the emergency use authorization (EUA) of its COVID-19 vaccine in order for it to be used on children aged three to 17.
"Medyo iniingatan lang talaga ng experts kasi ang laki ng range saka talagang mga bata (The experts are being careful because the range is huge, especially it involves children). Three to 17 is quite a big range. We’re extra careful when it comes to vaccines for use in children," said Domingo.
Domingo said that China has already approved the use of the Sinovac vaccine for children as young as three years old. Currently, the Philippines is using the Sinovac vaccine for 18 to 59 years old.
He said that the local experts are also looking if Indonesia's FDA will also give its approval to use Sinovac for their population aged three to 17.
"We’re waiting to see if Indonesia is going to give an approval for use in three to 17. As of now, our experts are just really taking a look at the data. Yung safety ang gusto nilang ma-assure (They want to ensure safety)," said Domingo.