FDA grants EUA to J&J Janssen and India's Covaxin vaccines

The Philippine FDA has granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Johnson & Johnson's Janssen vaccine and India's Covaxin by Bharat Biotech.

Both vaccines are approved for individuals aged 18 and above, with their benefits assessed to outweigh any risks.

Bharat Biotech must submit an additional document before importing its COVID-19 shots.

US experts are investigating seven reports of blood clots among seven million people inoculated with the Janssen vaccine.

The FDA has asked the Department of Health to establish clear guidelines for the rollout of the Janssen vaccine, informing recipients about potential side effects and medical assistance.

The Janssen vaccine has received EUA in 40 countries and is on the WHO's emergency use list.

These approvals make the single-shot Janssen and Covaxin vaccines the fifth and sixth COVID-19 vaccines to receive EUA in the Philippines.

The Philippines is also set to receive approximately 20,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine this quarter, with the first batch arriving by mid-June.

Additionally, 117,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine are expected to arrive in May, with the country aiming to complete orders for 20 million doses before the year ends.