Sinovac vaccine OK as primary anti-COVID jab for minors 5 to 17 years old – DOH

FILE PHOTO: Test tubes are seen in front of a displayed Sinovac logo in this illustration taken, May 21, 2021. REUTERS

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has approved the use of Sinovac’s anti-coronavirus vaccine, CoronaVac, as the primary dose for minors aged 5 to 17.

“In-apprubahan na po ng Kagawaran ng Kalusugan ang paggamit ng CoronaVac or Sinovac bilang primary series sa ating mga 5-17 years old, bilang alternative sa ating mga mRNA vaccines,” DOH officer-in-charge and Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire announced in a press briefing Tuesday.

This development came as the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) gave its go-ahead for the inclusion of the Sinovac jab among the primary vaccine dose that can be administered to minors. The HTAC is an independent advisory body of the DOH.

Vergeire also said the DOH already issued a memorandum on the guidelines for the use of CoronaVac for minors on October 17.

Sinovac’s CoronaVac uses an inactivated form of the coronavirus – SARS-CoV-2 – to induce an antibody response against COVID-19, the serious respiratory disease caused by the virus. On the other hand, vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna uses the laboratory-developed mRNA (Messenger RNA) to teach cells how to produce spike protein that triggers immune response.

In May, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed the emergency use of Moderna’s anti-COVID vaccine for minors 6 to 11 years old.

In December 2021, the FDA also approved the emergency use of the Pfizer-made anti-COVID vaccine for minors 5 to 11 years old.

KGA