MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines may accept and use coronavirus vaccines donated by China even without the approval of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
FDA Director-General Eric Domingo said this Tuesday, citing the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, which allows the Department of Health (DOH) to accept donated medications as long as it is registered from its country of origin.
Its use, however, should be under the supervision of the Health Department, the FDA chief noted.
“Ang Department of Health po maari siyang tumanggap ng mga gamot na hindi pa rehistrado sa atin,” Domingo said during the televised Laging Handa Public Briefing.
“Sa Bayanihan Act din po nakalagay iyon na pwede tayong tumanggap ng mga gamot na registered sa home country basta, of course, it will be used under the supervision of the Department of Health.”
He added: “Pero desisyon po nila (DOH) iyon kung tatanggapin po nila at gagamitin nila.”
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said over the weekend that Beijing will donate 500,000 doses of coronavirus vaccines to the Philippines.
So far, the only vaccine the FDA allowed usage in the country is the one developed by US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. China’s Sinovac Biotech, the government’s preferred vaccine maker, has yet to submit its application for emergency use authorization (EUA) in the Philippines. Securing a EUA will allow a new vaccine to be administered to patients in the country.
But Domingo assured the donation will not put pressure on FDA to approve the Chinese firms’ EUA applications.
“Hindi pa rin po tayo magi-issue ng EUA hangga’t hindi po completely natapos iyong proseso. Kung meron mang makakapasok, iyong donation na gagamitin at tatanggapin ng Department of Health pero iyong mga oorderin, bibilhin at babayaran hindi ho maaari iyon hanggat hindi lumalabas ang EUA,” he explained.
“Hindi po equal ang pagtanggap ng donation sa pag-approve ng emergency use authorization,” he added.
The government has already secured 25 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine from Sinovac, which it expects to get EUA in the Philippines before February 20.