THE FOOD and Drug Administration of the Philippines is waiting for Pfizer Inc. to seek approval for its Covid19 vaccine to be used  on children aged 5 to 11.

“Dun sa huling experience natin sa kanila sa Pfizer, usually pag nakakuha sila ng approval o authorization sa US FDA, after mga two to three weeks nag-a-apply na rin sila dito sa atin ng amendment at isinusumite nila sa atin ‘yung data,” FDA Director General Eric Domingo said on Friday during the Laging Handa briefing.

Last week, the US FDA approved Pfizer Covid19 jabs for children below 12 years old.

“Ang aking expectation is probably within this month of November ay mag-a-apply din po for amendment ang Pfizer to include children 5 to 11 and we will be waiting for that application,” Domingo said.

He added that the interim results of the Pfizer vaccine for the said age group “have been good.”

“’Yung safety niya at efficacy profile sa age 5-11 ay maganda kaya napayagan na ng EUA sa America. Kaka-rollout lang nito kaya inaabangan din natin ‘yung real world data na lalabas probably by next week,” Domingo said.

The government is currently vaccinating adolescents aged 12 to 17. It hopes to start giving jabs to children aged 5 to 11 next year.