MANILA, Philippines — Chinese vaccine makers Sinopharm and Sinovac will apply for an emergency use authorization (EUA) in the Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week, Manila’s envoy to Beijing Jose Santiago “Chito” Sto. Romana said Monday.
“Our embassy is in touch with these two companies, of course, and we try to facilitate their contact with IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases] and if there’s any information that’s needed. We asked when they will file for EUA sa (with) FDA sa Pilipinas (in the Philippines),” Sto. Romana said in an online Palace briefing.
“Apparently, their plan right now, according to them, is that they hope to file in the next few days. Some time this week, they will file their EUA application with FDA in the Philippines,” he added.
China has approved Sinopharm’s COVID-19 vaccine for general public use. Its efficacy rate was reported to be at 79.34 percent.
Sinovac’s COVID-19 vaccine, which has a 50 percent efficacy, had earlier secured EUA from China.
Only American drugmaker Pfizer has so far submitted the EUA application for its COVID-19 vaccine in the Philippines.