Galvez: EO for emergency use authorization for COVID-19 vaccines ‘in process’

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. on Wednesday said an executive order is already "in process" to hasten the local approval undertaking for COVID-19 vaccines.

Galvez was asked to comment about the issue that the agreement among the government, the private sector and AstraZeneca could be voided if it fails to get the approval of the country's Food and Drug Administration.

"It is in our law that we cannot buy certain products that [don't] have any FDA approval. Based on our report and recommendation to the President, we can use the emergency utilization authority which will be given by the President, authorization by the President through an EO..." Galvez said at Kapihan sa Manila Bay's virtual forum.

"I believe last Monday we have discussed this and I believe this is already in process considering that the only difference in the EUA, from six months of deliberation, the deliberation will be shortened more or less 21 days to 30 days..." he added.

"The only thing that has been changed on the process is that some bureaucratic delays have been removed. The process itself is the same," Galvez said.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III earlier said the tripartite agreement requires the candidate vaccine to undergo evaluation by vaccine experts and the FDA.

According to the Department of Health, a COVID-19 vaccine would not be given to Filipinos without regulatory approval.

AstraZeneca's vaccine, which is reportedly 70% effective against COVID-19 at its first half dose and 90% after the second full dose, is up for evaluation by the Philippine Vaccine Experts Panel and the Ethics Review Board.

Galvez had said it offers the cheapest potential vaccine at $5 per dose. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News