The manager of Pfizer in the country vowed that the pharmaceutical company is committed to bringing its COVID-19 vaccines to the Philippines as soon as possible.
“Pfizer is very keen to partner with the Philippines and ensure that Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is available for use in the country,” Riedel said in a Senate hearing.
“I’m also very happy to announce that it is Pfizer’s intention to make its COVID-19 available to low-income countries like the Philippines at a not-for-profit price during the pandemic,” he added.
Currently, Pfizer is in “advance discussions” with the national government for a possible COVID vaccine supply deal.
Yesterday, FDA Director-General Eric Domingo announced that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted emergency use authorization (EUA) to the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech.
“After thorough review, the FDA is granting EUA to Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19. The interim data from the ongoing Phase 3 trial shows the vaccine has an efficacy rate of 95% in the study population and at least 92% among all racial groups. The EUA means the benefits outweigh the known and potential risks,” Domingo said.
“This is effective immediately,” he added.
The FDA chief said a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine could be given to people 16 years old and above.
Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to be made available in PH asap – exec
The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is the first vaccine that could be legally used in the Philippines.
Domingo said that the vaccine’s side effects were found to be transient, mild to moderate, and similar to common vaccine reactions.
“No specific safety concerns were identified,” he said.
It would be recalled that Sen. Panfilo Lacson that the Philippines would have been able to get 10 million doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine by January if the secretary had not neglected the documents needed by the drug firm.
But Duque said the company does not have a 10 million vaccine promise that should have arrived by January.
“I don’t recall na may ganoong definite na makakakuha kayo ng 10 million doses, there was nothing like it, everything was indicative… There is no such thing as I did not act quick enough. You go through a process… No deadline was set by Pfizer, nothing in all our documents,” he said.