MANILA – It is possible that a vaccine for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) will be available in the country by March 2021, according to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director General Eric Domingo.
He made the statement following President Rodrigo Duterte’s order that he wanted the vaccines acquired earlier than the projected period which is the second quarter of 2021.
Duterte recently issued an Executive Order No. 121 allowing Domingo to issue an emergency use authorization (EUA) to COVID-19 drug and vaccine makers.
The United Kingdom has granted an EUA for vaccines developed by Pfizer Inc. of the United States and BioNTech SE of Germany which will be distributed in limited numbers.
“Nagiging mas hopeful ako, sa totoo lamang po, ang ine-expect ko na magkakaroon ng EUA sa US, UK or sa European Union mga December pa, kaya nagulat din po ako na ang UK nagbigay na ng EUA,” Domingo said.
“Parang mas maaga po ito sa three weeks na aking ine-expect at ang US FDA mukhang magbibigay na rin ng EUA possibly sa Pfizer at sa Moderna within two weeks,” he added.
According to Domingo, vaccine manufacturers that would be able to secure an EUA from their respective countries or included in World Health Organization’s emergency use list, can apply for an EUA in the Philippines.
Pfizer, Moderna, Sinovac, and Sinofarm could be the first ones to apply to the country since they have already secured similar authorization from other countries.
“So, kapag nag-apply sila dito sa atin, probably, first few weeks ng January meron na rin tayong maibigay na emergency use authorization at baka mapaaga nang kaunti, baka magkaroon ng chance by March eh magkaroon na ng bakuna dito sa Pilipinas,” he said.
“Magiging depende na lang dun sa production kung mayroong mailalaan na supply at made-deliver dito sa atin para ma-distribute natin,” Domingo added./PN
