Pfizer applies for EUA in Philippines – Palace

December 27, 2020

Malacañang on Saturday said US drugmaker Pfizer has already applied for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of its COVID-19 vaccine in the Philippines.

In a statement, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director-General Rolando Domingo confirmed that Pfizer filed for EUA last December 23 during President Rodrigo Duterte’s emergency meeting.

“It will take FDA 21 days to evaluate and approve the EUA but vaccination would start as soon as stocks become available,” Roque said.

In the meeting, Duterte warned he will end the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) if America will fail to deliver at least 20 million COVID-19 vaccines.

"Do not believe... that America (is) delivering immediately. They were not able to deliver it to their area..If America wants to help, you deliver stop talking. What we need is the vaccine not your... speeches," he said.

"The VFA will end if I will not agree. They have to leave, if they fail to deliver at least a minimum of 20 million vaccines. They better get out," he added.

Last December 18, Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez said biopharmaceutical firms Moderna and Arcturus are ready to supply four to 25 million of their respective COVID-19 vaccines to the country.

Romualdez made the statement following allegations that Health Secretary Francisco Duque III botched the process of securing at least 10 million Pfizer vaccines by January 2021 for allegedly delaying the submission of a mandatory confidentiality agreement with the US firm.

Vaccine czar, Secretary Carlito Galvex Jr, said the country is aiming to get doses from Novavax, Astra Zeneca, Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson, Moderna, Sinovac, Consino, Sinopharm and Gamaleya. Ella Dionisio/DMS