Sinopharm seeks EUA for Covid-19 vaccine in PH

MANILA, Philippines — Chinese drugmaker Sinopharm has applied for an emergency use authority (EUA) of its Covid-19 vaccine in the Philippines, Malacañang said Monday.

“It has been filed. They have already filed with the FDA [Food and Drug Administration] an application for EUA for Sinopharm vaccine,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a televised briefing.

Roque earlier said President Rodrigo Duterte prefers to receive the vaccine developed by Sinopharm, a China state-owned company.

Last month, the FDA allowed the compassionate use of 10,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccines to members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG).

The issuance of compassionate use license means the vaccines can be administered even without the vaccine securing an EUA that is required for Covid-19 vaccines to be legally administered in the country.

Roque has said these Sinopharm vaccines might also cover the PSG personnel’s families since the number of the President’s security detail would not surpass 10,000.

PSG chief Jesus Durante III admitted last year that some of their members were vaccinated as early as September.

Just last week, columnist Ramon Tulfo also admitted he has been vaccinated with Sinopharm in October 2020 along with other officials whom he did not name. The FDA has since said it will probe Tulfo’s vaccination.

Covid-19 vaccines that have so far secured an EUA from the FDA are those developed by Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, and Sinovac.

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