(PNA file photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.) MANILA - The government is still waiting for the recommendation from government experts before administering Sinovac's coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine for children 6 years old and above, a health official said Tuesday. On March 11, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the emergency use authorization for Sinovac's CoronaVac allowing the Chinese vaccine to be used for pediatric vaccination. In an online media forum, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said all necessary documents were already submitted to the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) which is an independent advisory body created under the Universal Health Care Act. HTAC's mandate is to undertake technology appraisals by determining their clinical and economic values in the Philippine healthcare system, with the aim to improve overall health outcomes and ensure fairness, equity, and sustainability of coverage for all. "In the meantime, hanggang di pa lumalabas ang evaluation ng ating mga eksperto hindi pa makakapag-issue ng guidelines ang DOH at yan ang last step na meron tayo (the DOH cannot issue implementation guidelines until it receives the experts' recommendation and that's the last step we have)," Vergeire said. She added that administering Sinovac to children could only start once the DOH issues implementation guidelines. In the same forum, Department of Health Technical Advisory Group member and pediatrician Ana Ong-Lim said the experts' recommendation is based on the safety data and efficacy of the Covid-19 vaccine concerned. "Please take note, lagi natin inuuna ang safety kesa sa efficacy kasi wala naman pupuntahan ang bakunang mabisang-mabisa kung hindi naman siya ligtas (we prioritize safety over efficacy because an effective vaccine can go nowhere if it's not safe to use)," she said. Ong-Lim added both parameters are being scrutinized by many groups before a vaccine is finally rolled out so the evaluation process seems to be longer. (PNA) }