THE PHILIPPINES’ drug regulator has approved the emergency use of Moderna, Inc.’s coronavirus vaccine for kids as young as six, according to a local drugmaker that lobbied for its approval.
The local Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorization that Zuellig Pharma Corp. filed through its commercialization arm ZP Therapeutics, allowing the vaccine to be used for children aged 6 to 11, the company said in a statement on Monday.
The vaccine, known as Spivax, has an acceptable safety profile and elicits a strong immune response for the age group, Zuellig said. Its efficacy and safety among children are similar to those in adults, it added.
The regulator’s approval is an addition to recent approvals by the National Regulatory Authorities of Canada, European Economic Area, Australia and other countries on the Moderna shot for pediatric use, Zuellig said.
“This is a welcome development in expanding COVID-19 vaccine access within our pediatric population,” it added. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza