The Department of Health (DOH) said Monday experts would study China’s approval on the emergency use of Sinovac Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine for children aged three to 17.
“Magandang balita ‘yan, kung talagang makikita natin na ‘yun talagang pag-aaral ay may accuracy at saka makikita natin na ‘yung basis nila at ‘yung ebidensya nila ay maganda, maganda itong balita hindi lang para sa Pilipinas kung hindi para sa buong mundo,” DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told reporters.
(This is good news. If we see that the study is accurate and that it has good basis, this is good news not only for the Philippines but also for the entire world.)
“Tayo ay laging bukas sa ganitong makabago saka innovative na ginagawa para maexpand natin ang coverage ng ating pagbabakuna. Pagka nabuo na nila ang mga ebidensya at nakumpleto na nila ‘yung mga trial at nagsumite sila dito sa Pilipinas ng revision ng kanilang emergency use authority, pag-aaralan po ‘yan ng ating mga eksperto,” she added.
Experts to study EUA of Sinovac in children: DOH
(We are always open to this kind of development for the expansion of our vaccination rollout. If Sinovac completes its trial and submits its revision of the emergency use authority, our experts will study that.)
According to Reuters, China has approved emergency use of Sinovac Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine in people aged between three and 17, its chairman Yin Weidong told state TV.
China’s mass vaccination drive, which administered 723.5 million doses of vaccines as of June 3, is currently only open to those aged 18 and above.
When Sinovac’s vaccine is offered to younger groups depends on health authorities formulating China’s inoculation strategies, Yin told state TV in a live interview.
Yin said minors have lower priority for vaccination against the coronavirus than the elderly, who face a higher risk of severe symptoms after infection.
Preliminary results from Phase I and II clinical trials showed the vaccine could trigger an immune response in three to 17-year-old participants, and most adverse reactions were mild.
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