28 Jan
The Philippines' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the emergency use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, FDA head Enrique Domingo said on Thursday.
"Based on the totality of evidence available to date, including data from adequate and well-known controlled trials, it is reasonable to believe COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca may be effective to prevent COVID-19," Domingo said in a virtual press conference.
AstraZeneca is the second vaccine maker authorized by the Philippines for emergency use.
The Philippines also approved on January 14 emergency use of Pfizer Inc and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine.
The Philippines is in talks with at least seven vaccine makers to procure 148 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines this year.
It aims to vaccinate 50 to 70 million people, or more than 60 percent of the total population this year, to achieve herd immunity.
The Philippines now has 518,407 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 10,481 deaths.
xinhua
