Philippines approves COVID-19 drug, vaccine for children aged 5-11
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./.