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Two of China’s COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers, Sinopharm and Sinovac, will seek emergency use approval from the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week, Manila Ambassador to Beijing José Santiago “Chito” Sta. Romana said Monday.
Sta. Romana revealed this after the embassy’s communication with Sinopharm and Sinovac.
“Apparently their plan right now, according to them, is that they expect to apply in the next few days. At some point this week they will present their USA [emergency use authorization] application with the FDA in the Philippines, “he said at a Palace news conference.
“Our embassy is in contact with these two companies of course and we try to facilitate their contact with IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases] and if there is any information that is necessary. “
Last week, China approved the vaccine developed by Sinopharm for general public use. The Sinopharm vaccine is said to be 79% effective in preventing people from contracting the coronavirus.
Sinovac’s vaccine is reportedly 50% effective, but Malacañang said the efficacy rate is within the minimum standard set by the World Health Organization.
FDA CEO Eric Domingo previously said that the US company Pfizer had submitted a US application for the vaccine it developed with BioNTech.
Meanwhile, the Janssen vaccine will go through late-stage clinical trials in the Philippines. – RSJ, GMA News
