FDA may allow use of Pfizer vaccine on those aged 12 to 15

MANILA, Philippines — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may allow the use of US-made Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines on those aged 12 to 15, FDA chief Eric Domingo said in a taped briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte that aired on Wednesday night.

According to Domingo, Pfizer-BioNTech has applied for an amendment of the emergency use authorization of its vaccine to include children in that age group.

He said the FDA might issue an amendment to the EUA within the week.

“‘Our experts have evaluated it. And in fact,  early this evening, I already got the recommendation of our experts and it’s very favorable,” Domingo said, speaking partly in Filipino. “Within the week we will be issuing an amendment to the EUA of Pfizer and we will be able to use it on children 12-to-15 -year-olds.”

According to Domingo,  the US FDA has allowed and started using the vaccine on the said age group.

Pfizer-BioNTech secured an EUA for its vaccine last January but only for individuals aged 16 and older.

Sinopharm EUA

Meanwhile, Domingo said the Department of Health (DOH) submitted on May 20 its application for the EUA of China-made Sinopharm vaccines.

The country’s vaccine experts panel is on the process of evaluating the application, but so far “it seems favorable,” he said.

The DOH has yet to submit additional documents.

“We believe that we will be able to also complete the evaluation and issue an EUA for Sinopharm either towards the end of this week or early next week,” Domingo said.

The FDA is also still waiting for the EUA application for the Novavax vaccine, but this may come soon as the firm has already applied in the US and in India.

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