OVER a month since the issuance of the first certificate of product registration (CPR) for COVID-19 vaccine, no drugstore or pharmacy in the country has yet applied to sell the bivalent jab of Pfizer Inc, the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday.
The DOH said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not received any application for a certificate of lot release which is needed for the importation of the vaccine.
The FDA in June issued a CPR for the bivalent dose of Pfizer Inc., the first COVID-19 vaccine approved for commercial use in the Philippines.
The CPR is needed for the manufacturers to engage in the marketing, importation, exportation, sale, offer for sale, distribution, transfer, promotion, and advertisement of the product.
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa on Monday said delays in the commercial availability of the Pfizer vaccine “is in the availability of the cold chain (equipment) because the vaccine is required to be kept in minus 70 degrees.”
He said it is up to the vaccine manufacturers and pharmacies to decide on the logistical requirements of the vials. — Gerard Naval
