Although the immunization campaign against Covid-19 in Mexico continues to advance, it has lagged behind compared to other nations. So far it is estimated that just over half of adults have received at least one dose. Although if you want to speed up the process it is necessary to implement new measures and one is to approve new options. That is why Moderna’s vaccine is about to be the eighth alternative available in Mexico.
Alternatives already approved in Mexico
In this sense, it is necessary to remember that until now there are seven biological options approved by the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris) for emergency use in Mexico. The list consists of AstraZeneca, Cansino, Pfizer, Sinovac, Sputnik V, Covaxin, and Johnson & Johnson.
Now, a few weeks ago, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard declared that Moderna’s vaccine it would be the next to be approved by the health authorities of our country and that is about to materialize.
During the 87th extraordinary session of the Committee on New Molecules (CMN), and the Subcommittee on Evaluation of Biotechnological Products (SEPB), experts issued a unanimous favorable opinion on the COVID-19 vaccine (mRNA-1273) manufactured by Moderna, with the indication for emergency use for the prevention of COVID-19 disease in people 18 years of age and older.
Committee on New Molecules and Subcommittee on Evaluation of Biotechnological Products unanimously issue a favorable opinion for the emergency use of the Modern COVID-19 (mRNA-1273) vaccine.
👉 https://t.co/XGoEOfcQHD pic.twitter.com/8mzNBionod
– COFEPRIS (@COFEPRIS) August 16, 2021
The vaccine, developed in the United States, received this first favorable unanimous opinion, which represents an advance in the approval process necessary to meet the quality, safety and efficacy requirements, essential when considering a product. The next step is authorization for emergency use.
The committee and subcommittee are auxiliary consultative bodies and are part of this regulatory commission. They issue non-binding opinions on medicines and other health supplies, so this step does not yet represent an authorization for use.
What is missing?
The favorable or unfavorable technical opinion is issued based on the scientific and medical evidence presented, and is integrated by the laboratories into their files. The Sanitary Authorization Commission is pending the request for the emergency use of the vaccine.
The importance of this decision is that now there is only one final process from Cofepris to be approved for Moderna’s vaccine to be approved. Therefore it would be a matter of days for that to happen.
For its part, this becomes relevant because in recent days the United States government announced the donation of a batch of Moderna vaccines to Mexico. In order for them to be applied to the population, it is mandatory that they are first approved by Cofepris and that seems closer and closer.