[ad_1]
The LOCAL Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the emergency use of AstraZeneca Plc’s coronavirus vaccine in the Philippines, the second approval after Pfizer, Inc.
Evidence and data show that it is reasonable to believe that the vaccine could be effective against coronavirus disease 2019. (COVID-19), FDA Director General Rolando Enrique D. Domingo said at an online press conference on Thursday. The benefits outweigh the potential risks, he added.
The vaccine had no safety concerns and its adverse effects were “transient and mostly mild to moderate, similar to common reactions to vaccines,” he said.
The AstraZeneca vaccine is 70% effective after the first dose and requires a second dose after four to 12 weeks, Domingo said.
In a statement, the British drug manufacturer said the vaccine could be given to people over 18 years of age.
It can be stored and handled under normal refrigeration conditions between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius for at least six months.
“This Emergency Use Authorization (USA) will give millions of Filipinos access to AstraZeneca’s effective, well-tolerated and easy-to-administer vaccine once a supply is available,” said AstraZeneca Philippines President Lotis Ramin at the release.
“We will continue to fulfill our commitment to provide broad and equitable non-profit access as we work with the Philippine government to pave the way for a return to normalcy and the country’s full economic recovery,” he added.
The national government, local government units (LGUs) and the private sector signed an agreement to purchase 17 million doses of Astrazeneca vaccines this month.
Russia’s Gamaleya Microbiology and Epidemiology Research Institute, China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd., and India’s Bharat Biotech also have pending applications for emergency use in the Philippines. – Won Marlo M. Villegas
[ad_2]
