Hanoi (VNA) – The Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on December 23 approved emergency use of a COVID-19 antiviral pill for adult patients at risk of developing severe illness, and a COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5-11.

According to FDA General Director Rolando Enrique Domingo, the agency granted emergency use authorisation for Molnarz, a brand of the antiviral molnupiravir, which is developed by the US pharmaceutical firm Merck and distributed by Faberco Life Sciences.

Domingo said the drug is indicated for adults aged 18 and above with mild to moderate COVID-19 who have risk factors for developing severe illness.

The FDA has also approved the emergency use authorisation for Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine for the 5 -11 age group with a dose lower than the standard dose for adults and adolescents.

Pfizer and BioNTech are applying emergency use authorisation of a two-dose regimen of their 10-microgram dose for children aged 5 -11. The two shots would be administered three weeks apart.

According to Domingo, his country planned to start vaccinating children aged 5-11 against COVID-19 from January 2022./.