FDA likely to approve Pfizer shots for teens

A vial and syringe are seen in front of a displayed Pfizer logo in this illustration taken January 11, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

MANILA, Philippines — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is set to allow the use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on children 12 to 15 years old by amending the emergency use authorization (EUA) earlier granted to its manufacturer, according to Director General Eric Domingo.

‘Very favorable’

Domingo said Pfizer-BioNTech applied on May 20 for an amendment to its EUA to include young teenagers in the groups of people who may receive the American-made vaccine.

“I already got the recommendations of our experts and it’s very favorable,” Domingo said during a meeting with President Duterte at Malacañang on Wednesday night.

Not for now

“So, within the week, we will be issuing an amendment to the emergency use authorization of Pfizer and we will be able to use it on children 12 to 15 years old,” he said.

But Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Thursday said the government would not include teenagers in its mass immunization drive for now.

“Because the vaccines are not enough and they are not included in what we call high-risk group, we cannot include them for now,” Duque said at Thursday’s Laging Handa briefing.

The focus of the vaccination drive are the senior citizens and persons with comorbidities, he said, noting that seniors were at risk of needing hospitalization if they get infected.

Priority

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the government would consider including teenagers in the vaccination drive after the arrival of the Pfizer shots the government had ordered.

The Pfizer vaccines currently in use in the country were donated by COVAX, the global vaccine pool, and are only allowed to be administered to healthcare workers, seniors, persons with comorbidities, and indigents.