THE DEPARTMENT of Science and Technology has approved the clinical trial of Sinovac’s Covid19 vaccine for children.

“Actually, ang Sinovac ay nag-apply for clinical trials sa children three years to 17 years old. Actually, narekomenda na natin ang approval ng clinical trial na ‘yun sa children sa FDA, ongoing po ang evaluation sa FDA ngayon for final approval,” Dr. Nina Gloriani, head of the DOST’s Vaccine Expert Panel, said, referring to the Food and Drug Administration.

China allowed the use of the Sinovac vaccine for kids in early June, with the company saying the jab successfully triggered an immune response among the age group with only mild adverse reactions.

Gloriani said the government wants more local data to ensure that the vaccine is safe for children.

“Gusto natin ng local data. Although sa China maganda naman ang data nila in terms of safety at ‘yung immunogenicity, ‘yung antibody responses ng mga bata mas mataas kaysa dun sa may edad,” she said.

If approved, the Sinovac vaccine will be the second Covid19 vaccine allowed for children in the country.

Only Pfizer has so far been given an emergency use authorization for the use of its vaccine on children aged 12 to 17.