7 Covid-19 vax brands approved for emergency use in PH: FDA

MANILA – Food and Drug Administration Director General Eric Domingo on Monday said the Philippines has the second most number of authorized vaccines for use against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

“Since last week po, we already have seven vaccines that we have given emergency use authorization (EUA). Iyong mga ibang country po usually a little less but hopefully tayo po mayroon po tayong tina-target po na dalawa ‘no, sila (National Task Force Against Covid-19 Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr.) na (Other countries usually have a little less but hopefully with National Task Force Against Covid-19 Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr., we are still targeting two more possible vaccines) to come into the country aside from the seven that are already authorized,” Domingo said during a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte.

Domingo reported there are 111 vaccine candidates worldwide under ongoing clinical trials on humans – Phases 1, 2, and 3 – and of these, 14 are already being used in different countries.

So far, the FDA has granted EUA to the Covid-19 vaccines from AstraZeneca, Sinovac, Gamaleya Institute, Johnson & Johnson, Bharat Biotech, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Moderna following Executive Order No. 121 signed by Duterte on Dec. 1, 2020.

The FDA observes two conditions in granting EUA to Covid-19 vaccines — the presence of enough evidence showing the vaccine may be able to prevent Covid-19 and safety for use, which means its known and potential benefits outweigh the risks.

“Iyon pong Bharat Biotech, ito po ‘yong isang Indian vaccine na hinihintay pa po natin ‘yong good manufacturing practice certificate niyan bago makapag-import sa Pilipinas (Bharat Biotech is an Indian vaccine, we’re waiting for its good manufacturing practice certificate before importing in the Philippines),” Domingo said.

As for Sinopharm’s Covid-19 vaccine, the FDA has requested pertinent clinical trial data and the information from the World Health Organization which included the vaccine in its emergency use listing so that the country’s vaccine expert panel can conduct a quick review.

“The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts of WHO completed the review of the vaccine of Sinopharm. In fact, they also did inspections of the factory to make sure that it follows good manufacturing practice And it was found to have efficacy in preventing symptomatic and hospitalized disease at an estimated 79 percent among all age groups,” Domingo added.