DOH: FDA-recommended interval between doses of COVID-19 vaccine should be strictly followed

The interval between the administration of two doses of COVID-19 vaccine based on the evaluation of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should be strictly followed to avoid reduction of the vaccine's efficacy rate, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire issued the reminder given that the two COVID-19 vaccines approved by the FDA for emergency use authorization (EUA) so far — those of Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca — have varying intervals between administrations.

The FDA found that the vaccine by Pfizer-BioNTech will reach its 92% to 95% efficacy rate after two doses administered 21 days apart.

On the other hand, the FDA said that AstraZeneca's vaccine has a 70% efficacy rate after first dose, a rate that increases after the second dose is administered four to 12 weeks after.

"Base sa pag-aaral at indikasyon ng bakunang ito…iyon po ang nilagay natin sa EUA kaya kailangan susundin natin ‘yan (timeline)," Vergeire said during the Laging Handa briefing.

"Ang isang sinasabi ng ating mga eksperto, kapag mas pinatagal iyong pagbibigay ng second dose compared roon sa required na dosing schedule, maaaring magkaroon ng escaped mutation na maaaring makaapekto roon sa efficacy rate ng bakuna,” she added.

"Mas maganda na po na susundin na natin iyong schedule na sinabi ng EUA at iyong indikasyon noong bakuna na 'yun."

The first batch of COVID-19 vaccines from the COVAX facility, which includes those from Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca, is due to arrive in the country within the first quarter and is expected to be deployed in COVID-19 referral hospitals.

The initial doses will include 117,000 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech and 5.5 million doses from AstraZeneca. —KBK, GMA News