Vaccinations of senior citizens can now resume after health authorities on Wednesday expanded the use of the COVID-19 vaccine by Chinese drugmaker Sinovac.
The Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ruled that the vaccine called CoronaVac's benefits outweigh the risks, but a stringent evaluation of the person’s health status and exposure risk must be conducted pre-vaccination.
Earlier, the country's vaccine expert panel recommended the use of Sinovac on seniors since it has only mild to moderate side effects, and offers protection from severe COVID infection for the elderly.
“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. Vaccination should be preceded by an evaluation of the person's health status and exposure risk to assure that benefits of vaccination outweigh risks,” FDA Director General Eric Domingo said.
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Vaccinations for seniors was stalled after supplies of the AstraZeneca jab ran out on Monday, prompting health authorities to reconsider Sinovac for wider use.
Authorities have urged the public, especially senior citizens and persons with comorbidities, to get vaccinated for added protection from the virus that has already taken over 14,000 Filipino lives as of April 7.
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