World

Philippines approves Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use

Authorisation effective immediately, says FDA

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 14 Jan 2021 7:20PM

Philippines approves Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use
Pfizer applied for the EUA in the Philippines on December 23. – AFP pic, January 14, 2021

MANILA – The Philippines' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorised the emergency use of Pfizer-BioNTech's Covid-19 vaccine, reported the Xinhua news agency, quoting FDA head Enrique Domingo today.

"Based on the totality of evidence available to date, including data from adequate and well-known controlled trials, it is reasonable to believe that the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine may be effective to prevent, diagnose, or treat Covid-19," Domingo said at an online briefing.

He added that "the known and potential benefits of the Pfizer vaccine, when used to diagnose, prevent, treat Covid-19, outweigh the known and potential risks of said vaccine as of date".

Domingo said the emergency use authorisation (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine "is effective immediately".

Pfizer applied for the EUA on December 23.

Meanwhile, Domingo said China's Sinovac Biotech applied for the EUA yesterday. Pre-assessment of the application is ongoing, he added.

Aside from Sinovac, the FDA has yet to approve Covid-19 vaccine and EUA applications filed by AstraZeneca and Russia's Gamaleya. – Bernama, January 14, 2021

Related News

Opinion / 2w

Is the South China Sea moving from a ‘zone of peace’ towards the next conflict area?

Opinion / 2mth

ASEAN’s renaissance: A new lease of life in the multipolar world

Malaysia / 2mth

Covid-19 cases in Malaysia stable, no deaths recorded this year – MOH

Malaysia / 3mth

PM Anwar proposes ASEAN food security standby arrangement during crises

Malaysia / 4mth

Petronas denies involvement in reported diesel shipment to Philippines

Malaysia / 4mth

Sabah claim frequently used as political polemic in Philippines - Hajiji

Spotlight

Malaysia

RM245m Penang Hill cable car project 32 per cent complete - CM

By Ian McIntyre

Malaysia

Six locals charged over alleged kidnapping of Singaporean couple in Johor

Malaysia

PM: No political, racial or religious shield for those found guilty in TH, Felda probes

Malaysia

Singapore security guard jailed 14 days, fined RM7,000 for insulting Islam

Health

Dengue cases soar 56% to 58,079 as nation records 55 deaths

Malaysia

NGOs urge BERSAMA to put Indian community agenda on political radar

By Alfian Z.M. Tahir

Health

MOH warns seniors against unproven hydrogen inhalers

Malaysia

Former Tabung Haji CEO remanded seven days as MACC RCI probe deepens

Malaysia

21 held in KLIA-Nilai crackdown on alleged online love scam syndicate

You may be interested

World

Singapore caregiver jailed nearly 10 years, caned eight strokes for torturing schoolchildren

World

Iran claims stronger hand as Pezeshkian calls for end to West Asia war

World

Sydney Airport faces fourth air traffic control incident in a month

World

TikTok agrees to US$400 million settlement over alleged child privacy violations

World

Fei-Fei Li warns US AI backlash could undermine global leadership and innovation

World

Trump says ‘extraordinary’ US growth can tackle US$40 trillion debt

World

US threatens ‘toughest sanctions in history’ on Iran

World

China-Indonesia talks put South China Sea, defence and investment in focus