Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rdTHE Department of Health (DoH) has welcomed the news that the CoronaVac vaccine of Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech has been given emergency clearance in China for children over three years old. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire added that if the Chinese trial data is accurate, it will be good news not only for the Philippines but for other countries using CoronaVac as well. Vergeire said only after the country's health experts assess Sinovac's emergency use authority will the DoH consider using CoronaVac on Filipino children. Vaccination czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said negotiations are in progress to increase vaccine shipments from 158 million doses to 202 million doses, including the donations from Covax. Vergeire also said the Health department plans to submit an EUA application for the BBIBP-CorV vaccine of another Chinese drug manufacturer, Sinopharm.

Source: Manila Times June 07, 2021 16:18 UTC