AstraZeneca applies for COVID-19 vaccine EUA in PH

British pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca has applied for emergency use authorization (EUA) for its COVID-19 vaccine in the Philippines, marking the second such application after Pfizer.

FDA Director General Eric Domingo stated that the review process for AstraZeneca's vaccine will take approximately three to four weeks, depending on the completeness of their submission.

The FDA is expected to decide on Pfizer's EUA application by January 14, after receiving responses to queries posed to the company.

AstraZeneca has also entered into tripartite agreements with the Philippine government, local government units, and the private sector for vaccine procurement.

These agreements include a purchase deal for 2.6 million doses by the private sector and national government, and a separate deal by Quezon City for 750,000 doses.

The COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford and AstraZeneca has already received approval in the United Kingdom and India.

The Philippines aims to commence its vaccination program in the first half of 2021.

Separately, the FDA will conduct its own inquiry into the reported unauthorized vaccination of some members of the Presidential Security Group.