COVID-19 vaccine by April 2021 is ‘best case scenario’ 

September 25, 2020

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Friday said a vaccine against COVID-19 by April 2021 is the "best case scenario" for the country.

In a virtual press briefing, FDA Director General Eric Domingo said they expect to approve and register a vaccine against COVID-19 sometime the second quarter of 2021..

"A company would have to file an application with the FDA, and, it’s possible that by April 2021, we will have an approved vaccine. That is already the best case scenario," said Domingo.

Domingo said the FDA expects phase 3 of clinical trials for the vaccines being developed will finish in December at the earliest.

" That means that there’s a possibility that by the end of the year or toward the first quarter of next year, we already have applicants for registration," said Domingo.

"It may take another 3 months, assuming that they will complete all their analysis and have them submitted immediately to the FDA," explained Domingo.

As of September, there are 321 vaccine candidates in various stages of development worldwide.  DMS