By Pearl Gumapos
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday (Dec. 13) said the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine has around 90% efficacy among children.
“Ang nakikita natin is about a little more than 90.7% iyong kanyang vaccine efficacy sa mga children na five to 11 years old,” FDA Director-General Eric Domingo said during the Laging Handa public briefing.
This follows the news that Pfizer has filed for an emergency use authorization for vaccination among minors aged five to 11 years old.
“Ginagamit po siya as two doses. Ang initial schedule ay three to four weeks apart. Titignan ng ating vaccine experts at sila ang magsasabi sa atin kung ano ang magiging schedule. For all intents and purposes, I think it would be a two-dose schedule,” Domingo said.
According to Domingo, the main concern as of now is the safety of the children against COVID-19 vaccines.
“Ang primary concern natin, lalo na the children get younger and smaller, is iyong safety. Before the efficacy, iyong safety muna ang tinitignan ng ating mga eksperto bago natin payagan.”
“So far, sa clinical trial data, wala naman pong nakikita na very unusual o iyong tinatawag natin na signals of very severe adverse events,” he added. -rir
