DOH, FDA not consulted in vaccination of soldiers, Cabinet execs

Health Usec. Eric Domingo. INQUIRER.net file photo)

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) nor the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were not consulted for the anti-COVID shots administered to some army men and other government officials, FDA Director General Eric Domingo said Tuesday.

“I do not know who made the decision pero kinausap ko rin po si [but I talked to] Secretary Duque at nagulat din po siya [and he was also surprised]. We were not consulted, it was not done in consultation with the DOH or the FDA,” he said in an online media forum.

Domingo’s remarks came after several government officials confirmed that President Rodrigo Duterte’s security detail and some Cabinet members, as well as some army men were vaccinated against COVID-19, sans an approved vaccine for the disease in the country.

“Until now, we are firm on our stand sa publiko na ‘wag kayong magpapabakuna dahil wala talagang rehistrado na bakuna na dumaan sa pagsusuri ng FDA at this time [do not get vaccinated because there is still no registered vaccine that undergone FDA study],” Domingo said.

“We have not granted any authorization for any COVID-19 vaccine at this time,” he added.

The FDA’s regulatory enforcement unit is currently probing the use of COVID-19 vaccines, Domingo said.

However, he said that those who received the vaccine does not have any violation in the law.

It is only those who import, sell, distribute, and dispense unregistered products that are to be liable.

The FDA is likewise in the dark as to where the vaccine used on soldiers and government officials came from.

If it was donated to the Philippine government, it should’ve passed the DOH’s Bureau of International Health Cooperation, which coordinates with the FDA for clearances, Domingo said.

“In this case, wala pong dumaan kasi sa atin nito and hindi po namin alam. Wala pa po kaming impormasyon,” he said.

(In this case, it did not pass through us. We don’t have any information.)

JPV