AstraZeneca, Pfizer vaccines suitable for senior citizens: FDA

MANILA – Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director General Eric Domingo on Wednesday said Covid-19 vaccines from AstraZeneca and Pfizer would be suitable for senior citizens like President Rodrigo Duterte who will be prioritized in the national vaccination program.

“Sa ngayon po ang may approval na for senior citizens ay ‘yung Pfizer, 16 and above po ‘yan dahil may mga kasama po sa trials nila, mga (For now, the vaccine that has approval for senior citizens is Pfizer, that’s 16 and above, included in their trials are) 4,000 senior citizens, older than 65,” Domingo said In an online public briefing.

Meanwhile, AstraZeneca’s coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine is indicated for individuals 18 years old and above.

“Iyong AstraZeneca, medyo nag-iingat lang po tayo sa very elderly, yung mga 80, 85 years old na maraming sakit na very frail, ‘yun nga po yung mga nare-report sa Norway. Pero other than that indicated po sila sa mga mas nakatatanda (We’re careful about AstraZeneca for very elderly, those who are 80, 85 years old with comorbidities and very frail, like what was reported in Norway. But other than that, it is indicated for the elderly),” Domingo said.

He noted the efficacy rate of Covid-19 vaccines differs depending on location, situation, and group of people they are administered to.

Sinovac’s Covid-19 vaccine, he said, has a high efficacy rate for clinically healthy individuals ages 18 to 59 years old as mentioned in studies in Indonesia and Turkey but is not suitable for senior citizens and healthcare workers.

“Like the study in Brazil, tiningnan lang po talaga dun ay health workers na nag-aalaga ng may Covid-19 at ang efficacy rate ay 50.4 lang. Natutulungan naman tayo ng mga datos na ito para piliin kung kanino talaga mas nababagay ang isang produkto o bakuna (healthcare workers caring for patients with Covid-19 were the subjects of the studies there and the efficacy rate is just 50.4. These data help us select which product or vaccine is appropriate for certain individuals,” he said.