The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted the Sinovac vaccine’s emergency use license for COVID-19 vaccination of minors aged six and up, according to a Department of Health (DOH) official.
“Ang ating FDA ay nagpalabas ng kanyang approved EUA for Sinovac noong March 11 for children 6 years and above,” Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said during the Laging Handa briefing.
(Our FDA released an approved EUA for Sinovac on March 11 for children six years and above.)
“Kaya ngayon ginagawa na namin ‘yung ating implementing guidelines with inputs from our experts. Gagamitin na ‘yan natin for 6 years and above,” Cabotaje added.
(So now we are creating the implementing guidelines with inputs from our experts. We will use these for six years and above.)
Cabotaje said they’ll keep an eye on it because Sinovac’s EUA specifies that the vaccine is for “healthy children.”
“So baka hindi kasama ‘yung ating mga with comorbidities (so we may not include those with comorbidities),” she said.
Meanwhile, Cabotaje stated that the pediatric immunization doses will have the same formulation as adult vaccination doses.
Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine approved for children – FDA
“Hindi kagaya ng Pfizer na may reformulated kasi spike protein ‘yan na concentrated. Dito sa Sinovac, kung ano ‘yung formulation sa adult, ‘yun din ang formulation sa bata,” she said.
(It’s not like Pfizer that has a reformulated dose because it has concentrated spike protein. For Sinovac, the formulation given to adults will be given to children.)
“So we don’t need to buy additional Sinovac. We have enough on stock,” Cabotaje added.
Meanwhile, Cabotaje stated that the Philippines is prepared to contribute Sputnik and Moderna doses that will expire in two months.
According to Cabotaje, the Bayanihan, Bakunahan IV has been extended to various local government entities and territories.
“Pinagbigyan natin ang hiling ng ibang rehiyon at saka ng ibang mga LGUs na ituloy ‘yung kanilang bakunahan hanggang ngayong umaga Tuesday para sa general population, ‘yung ating first doses tapos ‘yung ating booster doses,” she said.
(We approved the request of several regions and LGUs to continue their vaccination until today, Tuesday morning, for the general population. The first doses and our booster doses.)
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