The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said the rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the country would proceed by the first quarter of this year despite spending results that its efficacy against the dominant original COVID-19 variant in the Philippines is low.
British drugmaker AstraZeneca said their vaccine could only give limited protection against mild disease caused by the South African variant of COVID-19.
“In this small phase I/II trial, early data has shown limited efficacy against mild disease primarily due to the B.1.351 South African variant,” an AstraZeneca spokesman said in response to the FT report.
“However, we have not been able to properly ascertain its effect against severe disease and hospitalization given that subjects were predominantly young healthy adults.”
Domingo said that FDA is still waiting for data on the AstraZeneca vaccine’s efficacy against other new variants.
“Naghihintay pa tayo ng datos nila sa bagong variants. Saka wala pa namang epekto ito sa atin kasi iyong South Africa variant ay hindi pa nakikita sa Pilipinas. Kahit iyong UK variant, kakaunti pa lang,” Domingo said during the Laging Handa briefing.
AstraZeneca vaccine rollout continues despite low efficacy vs. new variants – FDA
“Iyong circulating virus dito ay kahawig na kahawig pa rin ng original [variant ng] virus na ginamit noong dinevelop iyong AstraZeneca vaccine. Kaya iyan pa rin ang EUA natin, walang pagbabago ito,” Domingo added.
The FDA chief added the World Health Organization has yet to see any different indication of AstraZeneca’s diminished efficacy rate.
“Sinabi sa atin ng WHO na wala pa silang nakikitang pagbabago sa indication ng AstraZeneca, but they will keep everybody updated kung magbabawas ang efficacy rate niya (AstraZeneca) sa circulating variant,” Domingo said.
“Tuloy-tuloy naman po ang development ng vaccine ng manufacturers. Kung kinakailangan, maaari po nilang i-revise o i-tweak ng kaunti para maging responsive sa new variants,” he said.
“Pero as of this time, sa kanilang pag-aaral, wala naman [indications of lower efficacy rate],” Domingo added.
Many local government units in Metro Manila and other cities in the Philippines have signed supply deals with Astrazeneca for their residents.
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