Headline
Sinovac gets green light for pediatric vaccination
MANILA – Sinovac’s CoronaVac, a Chinese vaccine against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), can now be used for pediatric vaccination after getting an approval from Philippine authorities.
“We thank the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and our vaccine experts for approving Sinovac’s CoronaVac for ages 6 and above,” IP Biotech Group chairman Enrique Gonzales said in a statement Saturday.
IP Biotech Group is a pharmaceutical consortium that facilitated the initial arrival of Sinovac procured by the private sector.
In IP Biotech’s statement, it said that FDA released on Saturday the approved emergency use authorization (EUA) for Sinovac, allowing the Chinese vaccine to be used for the vaccination of minors. The eight-page document was signed by FDA officer-in-charge director general Dr. Oscar Gutierrez Jr.
“Making this vaccine available to the younger age segment is a game changer protecting the country’s youth and preserving recent gains in controlling the pandemic. This will also ensure greater access and vaccine equity for the Philippines,” Gonzales added.
Citing the study in Chile, Sinovac’s efficacy among 1.9 million children aged 6 to 17 years old is at 74 percent.
It also prevented hospitalization of 90 percent of children that got vaccinated by Sinovac but still had breakthrough infection, and 100 percent of them avoided intensive care unit hospitalization and death.
“The data will show that Sinovac is indeed a very safe choice for children and teenagers. This supports the notion on the safety and reliability of inactivated virus vaccines, much like the flu vaccine,” Gonzales said.
Neighboring countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and China are using Sinovac for pediatric vaccination.
He added that adding Sinovac as part of the pediatric vaccination program will help the country to achieve its goal of inoculating 39 million children.
The government has been using vaccine brands Pfizer and Moderna for pediatric vaccination.
Gladys Amigo
March 14, 2022 at 9:05 AM
Although proven safe for children, I still don’t want my eldest to be vaccinated as of this moment because as a parent, I’m worried and really afraid what if something bad happen to my son right after the vaccination. I have lots of worries until today but I have nothing against the vaccine because I know it’s for the benefit of all. I just hope that we can go back to normal so that we could spend more quality time with our family and live freely without facemasks.?
Christine Marie A. Abenes
March 14, 2022 at 11:18 AM
Covid 19. It’s beneficial since the Sinovac vaccine is safe for children, allowing the Pfizer vaccine to pair up with it to protect them. I can assure that it is safe for them because according to data from Chile, Sinovac has a 74 percent efficacy rate among 1.9 million children aged 6 to 17. This was also passed through a series of testing before being authorized by the FDA.
Riza Mae Alce
March 15, 2022 at 5:31 AM
Many of our kababayan still have doubts about their kids being vaccinated, they are afraid that the side effects of the vaccine can harm their children more than to have nothing. We can’t actually blame them for thinking that because it’s their kids’ health that we are talking about. However with some of the countries allowing the schools to have f2f classes and with their level 1 restrictions. I guess if I am going to be a parent it is a good thing to risk for my kid to be vaccinated than to have nothing. I want my kid to have confidence and protection against the virus.
Dyname Baldeniza
March 15, 2022 at 11:06 PM
Thank you for letting us know PCI. For me I Think they should think trice the more about it . Imagine 6 year old child having a vaccine ?? Do they think its good ?? Even adult have many side effect ? They should think it . Before make actions .
Mary Joy Valdevieso
March 17, 2022 at 8:02 AM
It’s was a good news knowing that there will be more vaccines that will be available and can be injected to the children. Maybe before people doubt about the effectiveness of this vaccine, but as time goes by since a lot of people have been vaccinated with sinovac and nothing bad happened to those who are injected with it. I hope this can them assurance that sinovac is a safe vaccine because it won’t be out in the public if it is not. It’s very important that all of us, not just adults but also childrens, to be vaccinated so that we can finally start going back to the normal, little by little. And being vaccinated can give us assurance of our safety and our children.