DOH SAYS

No inoculation using AstraZeneca's COVID vaccine sans regulatory nod

Despite securing 2.6 million shots of COVID-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca through a private sector donation amounting to P600 million, the government's actual vaccination procedure of over one million targeted Filipinos cannot proceed without pertinent approval from local regulators.

This was clarified by Health Undersecretary Mario Rosario Vergeire during an interview on state-run PTV’s Laging Handa briefing on Saturday. 

“Hindi naman po ‘yan ibibigay kung sakaling hindi papasa sa regulatory process natin,” Vergeire said.

The Health official said the supply deal secured by the private sector is an “advanced commitment para lang makasigurado na meron tayong allocation na ganito kadami.”

On Friday, Philippine government, the private sector, and AstraZeneca signed a tripartite agreement for the country to secure a supply of 2.6 million doses of the pharmaceutical firm’s potential COVID-19 vaccine. 

This supply, to be paid for by the private sector, will inoculate over one million Filipinos as the British drugmaker's vaccine requires two doses.

AstraZeneca-Oxford’s COVID-19 vaccine has been found 70% effective against COVID-19 at first dose, but it increases to 90% after the second dose was administered a month after the first dose.

Vegeire said AstraZenaca’s vaccine will still undergo regulatory processes in the country to be cleared for market release by the Food and Drug Administration.

“Hindi papayagan na makapasok sa merkado kung wala pang rehistro o authority from FDA,” she said. —LBG, GMA news