Only gov’t authorized to procure, administer COVID-19 vaccines—Galvez

MANILA, Philippines — Following reports of individuals allegedly making reservations for coronavirus vaccine shots in the country, COVID-19 policy chief implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. reminded the public Monday that only the government is authorized to procure and administer the vaccines.

“Any other offers of guaranteed access to any of the vaccines is not only illegal but also life-threatening,” Galvez said in a statement.

Authorities are now moving to identify those responsible for the misinformation and for their possible prosecution, the former military general said.

Galvez said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet issued emergency use authorization (EUA) to any of the candidate coronavirus vaccines.

“As such, it should be made clear that none of these vaccines should be sold to the public pending the issuance of EUAs. All vaccines that are reportedly being sold through the black market are deemed illegal,” Galvez said.

In a television interview on Monday morning, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. bared receiving complaints from China regarding the supposed presence of Chinese-developed vaccines in Binondo or more popularly known as Chinatown.

This is after reports of unauthorized coronavirus vaccination activities in the area surfaced last week. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1371965/manila-mayor-orders-probe-on-unauthorized-covid-19-vaccination-activity-in-binondo

So far, the Philippines has secured over two million doses of coronavirus vaccines from British drugmaker AstraZeneca through a tripartite agreement it signed with the private sector. https://globalnation.inquirer.net/192399/ph-buying-astrazeneca-shots-private-sector-picking-up-tab

The government is also looking into the vaccines of China’s Sinovac Biotech, Russia’s Gamaleya Research Institute, and Moderna and Pfizer of the United States. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1374225/vaccine-deal-talks-with-moderna-to-start-by-dec-30-locsin