Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 25) — British Swedish firm AstraZeneca plans to “eventually apply” for full marketing authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine in the country, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion said Wednesday.
“I asked them. They are also going to eventually apply for full FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approval,” he said in an online forum.
Concepcion did not say when, but he noted AstraZeneca is “still in the mode of no profit” on COVID-19 vaccines at this time.
A full marketing authorization or a Certificate of Product Registration is needed to commercialize and sell the product to the public.
Concepcion also said prices of COVID-19 vaccines may go up once they are issued a product registration.
“Hopefully, we are able to vaccinate all our people before that happens,” he added.
COVID-19 vaccines are currently being offered for free to eligible Filipinos.
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III earlier disclosed the cost range of COVID-19 shots procured by the national government. The price per dose is from $6.75 (around P338) to $27.59 (about P1,383).
