Sinovac’s vaccine against COVID-19 was given the green light for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) in Brazil and Thailand, a development that could serve as the basis for the same EUA in the Philippines.
“The medical communities and regulators in several countries have provided data that can assure parents on the safety and efficacy of vaccinating their children. The data will show that Sinovac is indeed a very safe choice for children and teenagers. This supports the notion on the safety and reliability of inactivated virus vaccines, much like the flu vaccine,” said Enrique Gonzalez, chairman of the pharmaceutical consortium the IP Biotech Group.
“As the country is now focusing on vaccinated children and adolescents, it is important that we provide more choices and proper vaccine access to Filipino families. The vaccine we are introducing has been approved in many other countries with stringent regulatory authorities. We are hoping for similar approval in the Philippines so we can ensure the safety of our youth,” he added.
Sinovac is also being used for children and adolescents in China, Chile, Indonesia, Malaysia and other countries in the region.
Gonzalez said the study in Chile, with data gleaned from 1.9 million children aged 6 to 17 years old, also showed that Sinovac’s efficacy is at about 74 percent.
Minors who have contracted COVID-19 but had been vaccinated with Sinovac avoided hospitalizations with an average batting rate of 90 percent.
Sinovac’s efficacy in preventing intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalizations and deaths of COVID-19 also stands at 100 percent, Gonzalez said.
Chile, which is one of the countries with the highest vaccination rates globally, approved the EUA of Sinovac for pediatric vaccination late last year.
Brazil, though its regulatory body Anvisa, and Thailand arrived at a similar decision this month when they approved the EUA for Sinovac for the same age group with no comorbidities.
The Sinovac pediatric vaccination in Brazil involves two doses, administered within a gap of 28 days.
In the Philippines, the vaccination drive for kids 5 to 11 years old began early this month.
Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said this will help give parents the confidence to allow their kids to attend face-to-face classes.