FDA OKs Sinovac for children aged 6 and older

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 14) — Sinovac’s CoronaVac was granted emergency use authorization for the immunization of children as young as six years old against COVID-19, the Food and Drug Administration confirmed to CNN Philippines on Monday.

This is the second COVID-19 vaccine allowed for children.

Department of Health Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire said a meeting with health experts will be convened to draft the implementing guidelines for pediatric vaccination using Sinovac’s vaccine.

“We are going to convene our experts na on this for us to draft the implementing guidelines,” Vergeire told CNN Philippines in a message.

Meanwhile, Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje, who chairs the National Vaccination Operations Center, said that government will use the existing Sinovac vaccine formulation given to adults.

"Same formulation as adult so we do not need to buy since we have enough stocks," said Cabotaje in a message to CNN Philippines.

Pfizer was first granted an EUA for vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 years old.

CoronaVac is also being used for children in other countries like China, Hong Kong, and Chile.

CNN Philippines' correspondent Carolyn Bonquin contributed to this report