By Ryan Lesigues
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today allayed public fears over reports that stocks of some medicines such as remdesivir, used against COVID-19, are gradually being depleted in hospitals.
At the Laging Handa Briefing today, FDA Director General Undersecretary Eric Domingo said it is true that the stocks of medicines in hospitals are being depleted due to the continuous increase of COVID-19 cases.
But he clarified that the FDA has already called the suppliers of remdesivir and favipiravir, and they assured him they still have enough supplies ready to be distributed to hospitals anytime this week.
“Ngayong umaga, tinawagan naman natin ‘yung mga supplier natin ng mga compassionate special permit …ng remdesivir — at sabi naman nila na mayroon naman silang supply at madi-distribute naman ito sa mga hospital, ganun rin ‘yung favipiravir.”
[This morning, we called our suppliers with compassionate special permits for remdesivir, and they said they have supplies and will be able to distribute them to hospitals, likewise favipiravir.]
Meanwhile, the official said they are ready to revise the emergency use authorization (EUA) they gave Sinovac once it can provide additional evidence that it can also be safely used for senior citizens.
Domingo made the statement after Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said they have already notified local Sinovac representatives to provide additional data to prove that Sinovac is safe for senior citizens.
“’Yun lang naman talaga ang inaantay natin, ‘yung data, kasi ‘yung initial na pinadala nila sa atin [na] evidence, sinubukan lang nila ang bakuna for 18- to 59-year-olds. So kapag nakita naman po na sa kanilang pag-aaral na sumunod, na [safe] for 60 above at okay ang efficacy niya, madali naman pong i-revise’ yung ating EUA to include the older population,” he said.
[That’s really what we are waiting for, the data, because the initial evidence they sent, they tested the vaccines on 18- to 59-year-olds. So when we see in their follow-up studies that it is safe for those 60 and older and its efficacy is okay, it will be easy to revise our EUA to include the older population.]
