FDA believes COVID-19 vax for kids below 12 may be ready before yearend
Health Usec. Eric Domingo of the Food and Drug Administration. INQUIRER.net file photo
MANILA, Philippines — COVID-19 vaccines for children below 12 years old may be available before the year ends, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director General Eric Domingo said on Tuesday.
“I would think before the end of the year. I’m pretty sure Pfizer’s going to be ready and the Sinovac also told us that their data is being collated and will be submitted soon. So, I believe before the end of the year, we’re going to have vaccines for children below 12,” Domingo said during the Palace press briefing.
The official hoped that Pfizer would submit its application of an emergency use authorization for COVID-19 vaccines for four to 11-year-old minors.
“Nagtanong na sila. They already asked for the list of requirements and they told us that they are completing the requirements. Mayroon lang kasi yatang difference kaunti doon sa formulation ng vaccine for children,” he shared.
(They already asked. They already asked for the list of requirements and they told us that they are completing the requirements. There may just be a slight difference in the formulation of vaccines for children.)
Article continues after this advertisementMeanwhile, Sinovac is still completing their data on vaccines for children below 18 years old which will be submitted to vaccine experts, Domingo said.
Article continues after this advertisementCurrently, the government is rolling out the pediatric vaccination program for children aged 12 to 17 years old.
Based on the last figures that Domingo saw, the country has administered Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to 500,000 eligible minors, noting that adverse events are less than one percent and mostly are mild.
“I think the most severe was allergies and mayroong parang pasyente isa na bata na nag-hyperventilate (and another child hyperventilated). So, so far, so good and we’re still continuing with that,” he said.
RELATED STORIES:
Vaccine expert: Ramp up vax efforts now, talk about boosters for kids later
Mobility of children outdoors up for IATF discussion on Thursday — Vergeire
DOH, WHO: Have kids vaccinated vs polio, other preventable diseases
JPV
For more news about the novel coronavirus click here.
What you need to know about Coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.
The Inquirer Foundation supports our healthcare frontliners and is still accepting cash donations to be deposited at Banco de Oro (BDO) current account #007960018860 or donate through PayMaya using this link.
