Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine ‘soon to be available at pharmacies’ – Malacañang

It will not be long before the COVID-19 vaccine by Pfizer – BioNTech can be sold commercially in the Philippines if the Palace is asked.

This was stated by presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Tuesday. The US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) has given full approval to the said COVID-19 vaccine brand for 16-years and above.

“Bagama’t kinakailangan bigyan pa rin ng commercial use approval ng Philippine FDA ang Pfizer, ito po’y mapapabilis dahil meron tayong polisiya na ang Philippine FDA ay mas mabilis naaaprubahan for commercial use ang mga bakuna’t gamot na meron nang approval sa mga stringent na FDAs gaya po ng Estados Unidos,” said Roque earlier.

“Kaya kaonting panahon na lang po ha, at mabibili na sa ating mga botika [sa Pilipinas] ang Pfizer kung ito po ang inyong preferred brand.”

Although it has full approval for 16-year-olds in the United States, it still has emergency use authorization (EUA) for 12-15-year-olds there. However, doctors can prescribe it to people younger than 16 if they see it beneficial to children.

Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine ‘soon to be available at pharmacies’ – Malacañang

It also currently has the EUA for 12-year-olds and older in the Philippines. Because it only has EUA in the Philippines, it is still illegal to sell it. It can only be distributed to the public for free in the midst of a pandemic.

The EUA first passed the FDA approval of COVID-19 vaccines in the Philippines to speed up immunization against the deadly virus. However, it takes a long process to get a certificate of product registration (CPR) for a drug in the country.

In an interview with Philstar.com, FDA Director-General Eric Domingo confirmed that Pfizer’s CPR would be approved faster, especially since it is already approved by the US FDA.

However, the company has not yet applied for its local certification.

“No application yet. Approval is not automatic, they have to comply with country specific requirements for each country, like the Philippines,” said Domingo.

“They have to apply first. We are ready to receive and process CPR applications for COVID 19 vaccines.”