HTAC OKs AstraZenaca COVID-19 jab on 18-year-olds, older

The Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC), an advisory body to the Health Department and PhilHealth, on Tuesday recommended the emergency use of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by British pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca for individuals aged 18 years and older.

Citing the European Medicines Agency, the HTAC said in its 5-page recommendation that “protection is expected given the immunogenicity profile seen in this age group and based on the experience of other countries with other vaccines.”

However, the HTAC said that the vaccine should not be given to individuals aged 18 years and below and those with a known history of severe allergic reaction to any of the vaccine’s components.

“While vaccination is not contraindicated in other special populations who are excluded in the analysis/ trials… close medical supervision will be required,” it said.

The HTAC also noted that the trial population did not include groups such as individuals aged 19 and below, immuno-compromised individuals, and pregnant and lactating women.

Meanwhile, the HTAC said that using AstraZeneca’s vaccine for individuals aged 56 years and above was “deemed acceptable.”

The agency earlier said there was “insufficient direct evidence regarding efficacy and safety for ages 56 years and older based on the interim results of the Phase III trial on… AstraZeneca.”

HTAC said it considered the following criteria in its assessment:

• responsiveness to magnitude and severity;
• clinical efficacy and safety;
• affordability and viability;
• household financial impact;
• social impact; and
• responsiveness to equity.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. in January said more than a million doses of vaccines would be delivered to the Philippines, with the vaccination rollout expected in February.

The vaccine products were from AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Sinovac.

The Philippines reported a total of 540,227 COVID-19 cases, of which 499,764 have recovered and 11,296 have died. — DVM, GMA News