The Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved the use of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine for senior citizens.
The approval followed the recommendation of the Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) amid the ongoing vaccine supply shortage worldwide.
“After considering the recommendation of the experts and the current situation of high COVID-19 transmission and limited available vaccines, the FDA is allowing the use of Sinovac on senior citizens,” FDA Director-General Eric Domingo announced on Wednesday.
“Vaccination should be preceded by an evaluation of the person’s health status and exposure risk to assure that benefits of vaccination outweigh risks,” Domingo specified.
The FDA and DOH are encouraging the public, especially elders and those with comorbidities to register in the vaccination program to acquire added protection from the deadly disease.
Countries like China and Indonesia have already began administering the Sinovac-developed CoronaVac to edlerly citizens. – Report from Mark Fetalco/AG-jbb
