Over a month has passed since the
Philippines commenced its vaccination program to protect Filipinos against the
ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While the national government, LGUs and private
sector made their respective deals with overseas pharmaceuticals creating COVID
vaccines, the first doses administered in March came from vaccine donations.
And the very first recipients were the country’s health workers and
front-liners, the better to safeguard them from infection while tending the
ever-increasing new COVID cases. Thus far, Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines
were the only ones used due to availability and having been given Emergency Use
Authorization. Soon however, they could be joined by a new one.
According to Inquirer.net, the American pharmaceutical company Moderna is likely
the latest to apply for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of their COVID-19
vaccine with the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FDA
Director-General Eric Domingo revealed this Monday, April 12, that Moderna might
be submitting their EUA application with them sometime this week. Domingo added
that this action may spell the end for the US drug firm and its slow pace at
making its vaccines available for the country, such that China’s Sinovac and
the UK-Sweden’s AstraZeneca have passed it.
“They have yet to apply,” says
the FDA Director-General. “Every week we always ask them if they are ready to
submit their application, they said they are still completing the requirements,
so maybe this week they will apply.” Another possible reason provided by
Domingo was that Moderna did not have any supply of their vaccines ready for
delivery to the Philippines on short notice, which would explain why they have
been in no hurry to get their EUA. He surmises that if Moderna does manage to get
their application filed this week, then the FDA could finish their evaluation
before the month of May arrives.
Even with the Emergency Use
Authorization still in the air, Moderna already has a standing tripartite
agreement with the Philippine government and the private sector for a total of
20 million doses of their vaccine. The latter gets 7 million of these while the
government gets the 13 million, for distribution across the country. An added
five million Moderna vaccines has already been ordered for good measure. While
arrival on delivery is not until late May or early June, Sinovac and Astra
Zeneca vaccines continue to be administered when available. Many medical
workers have received their second doses in certain communities, and the drive
has begun shifting to senior citizens.
Image courtesy of Philippine Star
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