Public warned of locally manufactured fake Covid-19 vaccines
MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Wednesday warned the public against purchasing locally made fake vaccines for Covid-19 as it could pose health risks.
“BOC warns the public to be careful when availing vaccines as fake vaccines may have severe health consequences to users as the composition of such vaccines are not tested and even worst fake vaccines may not be effective thus further exposing users to the dangers of Covid-19,” it said in a statement.
BOC said that it has boosted its efforts to improve border security against smuggling of illegal vaccines, in coordination with local law enforcement agencies such as the National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Food and Drug Administration.
The partnership has resulted in previous apprehensions and discovery of makeshift clinics that are suspected to be used to treat Covid-19 patients and may be utilized as an avenue of distribution for local fake vaccines, it added.
BOC assured that it will continue to work with other government and law enforcement agencies to curb the proliferation of fake and smuggled vaccines.
The BOC’s warning comes after Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto shared a photo of fake Pfizer vaccines on Twitter, warning people against buying illegally sold vaccines.
Article continues after this advertisementBeware!! Wag bumili sa mga ganito! Picture pa lang kita nang mali ang handling. Maglolokohan lang kayo niyan.
Dapat dumaan sa nasyonal na pamahalaan ang pagbili ng kahit anong bakuna. For our safety.
Health care frontliners din po ang mauunang bakunahan. pic.twitter.com/fX3xj6wA9X
— Vico Sotto (@VicoSotto) February 15, 2021
Sotto noted that Covid-19 vaccines should first go through the national government and reiterated that healthcare frontliners are the ones that should be vaccinated first. Zac Sarao, INQUIRER.net trainee
JPV
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