By Daniela Lorraine Brutas

PHOTO: Health Daily

The chief of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized doctors to prescribe Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine as a booster shot when it is already approved in the country.

“The doctor can prescribe and use it (Pfizer vaccine) as they see fit,” FDA Director-General Eric Domingo said in an interview when asked if doctors can prescribe Pfizer’s vaccine as a booster shot once it is commercially available.

He earlier said the Philippine FDA is anticipating an application from Pfizer seeking full approval of its COVID-19 vaccine.

Also, he explained that once the FDA approves Pfizer’s application, the company will be able to market their products locally.



His statement comes after the United State’s FDA has granted full approval to the COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Pfizer for people over the age of 16.

However, the vaccine has been authorized only for emergency use in the US since December and in the Philippines since January.

While the Department of Health (DOH) has yet to recommend administering booster doses due to insufficient data on its efficacy and limited vaccine supply.