Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 30) — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clarified on Friday that a medical prescription is needed and only licensed health care professionals may administer Pfizer’s bivalent COVID-19 vaccines once these are commercially available.
Earlier this week, the FDA announced that it granted a certificate of product registration (CPR) for the vaccine, which carries the name “ Comirnaty Original/Omicron B.A.4-5.”
“Dahil may marketing authorization na siya, pwede na talaga siyang mabili. May requirement lang, dapat may RX (medical prescription) and licensed ang mag-iinject ng produkto. It could be a pharmacist that has a certificate to vaccinate or our medical professionals,” said Jesusa Joyce Cirunay, FDA Center for Drug Regulation and Research director, in a press briefing.
[Translation: Because it already has a marketing authorization, it could be bought. However, there are requirements, such as that there should be a medical prescription and the one injecting the vaccine should be licensed to do so. It could be a pharmacist who has a certificate to vaccinate or our medical professionals.]
Cirunay said pharmacies and similar facilities selling the product should have cold chains that would meet the the bivalent vaccine storage requirement.
The FDA said Pfizer has yet to advise when it will begin selling the vaccines in the country Philippines or the unit price.
“Wala pa silang sinabi when they are going to bring it, but noting na may CPR na ‘yan [They didn’t say yet when they are going to bring it, but noting that there is already a CPR], they can bring it anytime,” Cirunay said.
The government began its bivalent vaccination program on June 21 using doses donated by Lithuania. The priority are health workers and the elderly.
READ: Marcos tells LGUs: Make sure vulnerable Filipinos get bivalent COVID-19 shots
