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Bong Go lauds PRRD EO allowing emergency use authorization for vaccines

Bong Go and Rodrigo Duterte
Bong Go and President Rodrigo Duterte

SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go lauded President Rodrigo Duterte for issuing Executive Order 121, signed last December 1, 2020, granting authority to the Director General of the Food and Drug Administration to issue Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) drugs and vaccines once they are available.

“Maraming salamat sa ating Pangulo sa pag-issue ng EO na naglalayong mapapabilis ang proseso ng authorization para sa COVID-19 vaccine at mga kaakibat na mga medisinang kailangan,” Go said.

The EO will help the government continue managing and addressing the impact of the pandemic by ensuring the accessibility and immediate availability of COVID-19 drugs and vaccines in the market.

“Napaka-importante po na mabilisan ang proseso upang makabangon muli ang bansa at makabalik na sa normal na pamumuhay ang ating mga kababayan,” he added.

Go, however, emphasized that the necessary studies must be conducted to ensure the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines prior to use and distribution. Once available, he reiterated President Duterte’s desire to prioritize poor and vulnerable sectors.

“Dapat siguraduhin ang safety at efficacy ng mga COVID-19 vaccines at dapat gawin itong accessible at available sa lahat matapos dumaan sa masusing proseso,” he said.

“Tulad ng sabi ng Pangulo, no Filipino must be left behind. Huwag natin pabayaan ang mga Pilipinong pinaka-nangangailangan. Dapat maibigay ito ng libre sa mga mahihirap at vulnerable sectors at gawing prayoridad sila kasama na ang mga frontliners, tulad ng medical workers, uniformed personnel at pati mga guro,” he added.

With the COVID-19 situation and the recent reports that the vaccines for the disease are in the latter stages of development, the Sub Technical Working Group for Vaccine Development and the National Task Force against COVID-19, led by Chief Implementer and Vaccine Czar, Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., have recommended that an EO be issued for such authorization.

“Dahil sa EUA na ito, mapapabilis ang proseso. Habang sinisiguro natin na ligtas at epektibo ang vaccine, dapat lang na kumilos tayo agad at pasimplehin ang mga hakbang dahil bawat oras ay buhay ng kapwa nating Pilipino ang nakasalalay dito,” he explained.

According to the Department of Health, the EUA will allow market activities for any drug or vaccine that are still ineligible for product registration as they are still under clinical trials.

Additionally, the EUA is useful in emergency situations where no registered product for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a novel disease or condition exists.

It is also noted that no unregistered COVID-19 drug and vaccine may be manufactured or marketed without an EUA.