The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to grant emergency use authorization (EUA) to the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, which is effective against other types of variants, including the Delta variant.
“Ang possible so far ‘yung Novavax, isang bakuna na na-develop sa US and India na very promising din at mukhang maganda sa Delta variant. Nag-publish na sila ng result,” said FDA Director General Eric Domingo on Sunday.
Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Sinovac (CoronaVac vaccine), Gamaleya Institute (Sputnik V), Johnson & Johnson (Janssen), Bharat Biotech (Covaxin), and Moderna have already been issued EUA by the Philippine FDA.
According to a Reuters report, the Novavax protein-based vaccine is over 93% effective against infectious coronavirus variants.
In May, Novavax Inc is said to be interested in building a manufacturing plant in the country to produce a vaccine against COVD-19.
Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez explained that Novavax has an agreement with the Serum Institute in India. Still, they want to build it in the Philippines and plan to build it at Clark Airbase Pampanga.
Novavax to possibly get EUA
In March, vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the Philippines had sealed the deal for 30 million doses of the Novavax vaccine.
“Naging maganda ang resulta ng pagbiyahe natin sa India no’ng isang linggo. Doon, napirmahan na po namin ang supply agreement kung saan ang Serum Institute of India ay magsu-supply ng 30 million doses ng Novavax sa ating bansa,” he said.
Meanwhile, vaccine experts are still studying the side effects of Pfizer regarding the reported swelling or inflammation of the heart in those vaccinated.
However, Domingo clarified that the cases of side effects are “very rare,” and those affected are under the age of 18 in other countries. At the same time, in the Philippines, young people under 18 have not been vaccinated.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has previously said that there is no reason to stop Pfizer’s use in vaccination, especially since its adverse effects are not permanent.
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