With vaccine manufacturers expected to apply for certificates of product registration (CPRs) soon, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has created a specialized unit tasked to streamline the process of evaluation of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) jabs.
FDA Director General Dr. Samuel Zacate said “Taskforce Edward,” composed of experts in the field of immunization, “has the primary objective to make the COVID-19 vaccines commercially available.”
The task force was named after Dr. Edward Jenner, a British physician known for his contribution to immunization.
Earlier, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said CPRs may be issued to COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers by early next year.
Only one COVID-19 vaccine manufacturer, Johnson&Johnson/Janssen, has submitted an application for the issuance of a CPR.