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The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday, December 28, 2020, said that any vaccine against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) must obtain an Emergency Use Authorization (USA) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA ) before they are administered to the public.
As of Monday, the FDA has not issued any US that allows the use of Covid-19 vaccines in the Philippines.
DOH issued a statement following President Rodrigo Duterte’s announcement over the weekend that many Filipinos have been inoculated with the Sinopharm vaccine.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines confirmed Monday that members of the Presidential Security Group have received the vaccine.
“DOH maintains that all vaccines must undergo the evaluation and regulation process of our regulatory bodies and experts,” the agency said.
“Only vaccines that have been approved and found to be safe should be given,” he added.
FDA Director General Eric Domingo said it is illegal to import, distribute and sell unregistered vaccines.
“Once there are illegal activities like this, once we have a problem, we will run after the importer, the distributor and the doctor or health worker who administered it because they are using unregistered drugs,” Domingo said in a separate interview.
“Once we get leads, we will conduct an investigation,” he added.
So far, only Pfizer has applied for a USA in the Philippines.
Domingo said that an EUA could be issued to Pfizer in January 2021. Pfizer submitted its application on December 23.
“I think it will be about two or three weeks for the evaluation, and within a month if everything is acceptable and in order,” he said.
He said the US issued for the Pfizer vaccine in the United States and the United Kingdom will be used in the evaluation.
“Once you have a US, the government can officially buy a product, import it into the country and use it,” said Domingo.
In early December, President Duterte signed Executive Order No. 121, which gives the FDA the authority to issue an EUA for Covid-19 drugs and vaccines that are still in development. (HDT / SunStar Philippines)
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