VACCINE experts of the Food and Drug Administration have recommended a 42-day interval between doses of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
FDA Director General Rolando Enrique Domingo, in a report to President Duterte on Tuesday night, said Russia’s Gamaleya Research Institute has asked FDA for an amendment of its emergency use authority (EUA) to include a longer time interval between the doses of Sputnik from the current 21 days to 90 days.
“Our vaccine experts recommended a maximum dose interval of 42 days. No problem in delaying the second dose, but if we give it within 42 days we have reason to believe that the results are going to be very good,” Domingo told a briefing.
Domingo said those who have received the first dose of Sputnik V should not worry about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine despite a delay in getting the second dose.
There is a delay in the delivery of supply. The Philippines was supposed to receive 170,000 doses of Sputnik V last night but the delivery has been set for a later date. The country has so far received 180,000 doses of Sputnik V.
Domingo, meanwhile, said Chinese company Sinovac BioTech has applied for an amendment to its EUA to enable the vaccine to be used on minors or those aged between 3 and 17 years old.
If approved, Sinovac will be the second vaccine that can be used on minors.
FDA has approved the EUA amendment for Pfizer which can now be used on kids aged 12 to 17 years. All other vaccines in the country are allowed to be used only on adults or those 18 years and older.
Domingo said Sinovac applied for an EUA amendment last Tuesday.
He said the country’s vaccine experts are studying the matter and the FDA may come up with a decision within the month.
“So this is another potential vaccine that can be used for the pediatric age group. Our vaccine experts are now taking a look at the data and of course, asking questions sa proponents and getting more information (So this is another potential vaccine that can be used for the pediatric age group. Our vaccine experts are now taking a look at the data and of course, asking questions to the proponents and getting more information),” he said.
China approved emergency use of the Sinovac vaccine for people aged between three and 17 in June.
The county has so far inoculated 11.967 million people with 2.92 million of which have already completed the two doses. — With Reuters
