Vaccine panel to await Pfizer’s request to allow vaccine jabs on 12-15 year olds

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 Philippines’ vaccine expert panel said Wednesday it is looking forward to Pfizer-BioNTech to seek authorization in the country for the use of its COVID-19 vaccine on children aged 12 to 15 years old.

If Pfizer’s existing emergency use authorization (EUA) is amended, Dr. Nina Gloriani, head of the Department of Science and Technology’s vaccine expert panel, said this will address the availability of vaccines to younger age groups.

“Hintayin na lang po natin na mag-apply sila ng EUA sa atin. Actually, this is an amendment to the EUA that we already have,” Gloriani said in a televised briefing.

(Let’s wait for them to apply for an EUA. Actually, this is an amendment to the EUA that we already have.)

“We actually look forward to that kasi maaddress nya po yung pagbabakuna doon sa mga age groups na hindi natin makakaya with other vaccines. We’re really looking forward to that,” she added.

(We actually look forward to that because it will address the vaccination of age groups that cannot be covered by other vaccines. We’re really looking forward to that.)

The United States’ Food and Drug Administration already authorized Pfizer’s jab to be used on children aged 12 to 15.

In the Philippines, Pfizer’s existing EUA states it can be administered to individuals 16 years old and above. The country has so far received 193,050 doses of the said vaccine from the World Health Organization-led COVAX facility.

Meanwhile, COVID-19 vaccines developed by AstraZeneca, Sinovac and Russia’s Gamaleya Institute which are also being used in the country can be inoculated to those aged 18 and above.

EDV