The Department of Science and Technology's Vaccine Expert Panel (DOST-VEP) is waiting for the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) decision on their recommendation to allow a fourth Covid-19 vaccine dose for senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals.
"As far as we know, nag request na ang DOH for an amendment of the EUA (the DOH has already requested for an amendment of the EUA)," said DOST-VEP head Dr. Nina Gloriani during a forum hosted by the Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday, March 24.
"Hangga't wala yung amendment, hindi siya pwedeng i-deploy. So, waiting tayo and we are hoping baka mga two weeks sana (As long as there is no amendment, it cannot be deployed. So, we are waiting and we are hoping maybe in two weeks )," she added.
On March 22, the DOH said it had already submitted an amendment application of the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of Covid-19 vaccines to the FDA for the administration of a fourth vaccine dose for the said specific sector of the population.
READ: DOH awaits FDA nod for 4th Covid-19 shot
"We recommended sa FDA for the second dose for very specific populations: ito yung (these are) moderately to severely immunocompromised, the elderly, yung mga (those with) very high exposure to possible Covid because of occupational settings," said Gloriani.
"We are waiting for sa magiging action ng FDA (on what will be the FDA’s action)," she added.