The Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the emergency use authorization (EUA) application of the Covovax vaccine against COVID-19, FDA director-general Eric Domingo said on Wednesday.
Domingo, during a televised briefing, said the nanoparticle vaccine may be administered to individuals 18 years old and above.
“This is a new kind of vaccine, this is what we call the protein subunit… it will replicate a part of the pure part of the antigenic portion of the virus. This will then be injected to elicit an immune response,” Domingo said.
Clinical trials showed the vaccine produced "very mild" adverse effects and has an efficacy rate of 89.7 percent in preventing COVID-19, he said in a televised public briefing.
The vaccine will be given in two doses with an interval of at least three to four weeks, Domingo said.
The Serum Institute of India Private Limited, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, had applied for the EUA in the country.