Galvez says gov’t probing 3 firms offering fake COVID-19 vaccines

MANILA, Philippines — The government is investigating three companies who are selling “fake” COVID-19 vaccines, National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said Tuesday.

In an online Palace briefing, Galvez said the NTF is already coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, and the police to look into the sale of fake vaccines.

“May tatlo kaming companies na pinaimbestigahan kasi we record check kung saan sila nanggagaling, and we found out na hindi sila authorized ng mother company ng mga vaccine,” Galvez said. He refused to divulge the name of the firms as well as the vaccine brand these companies were supposedly offering.

(There are three companies we are investigating because we record check where they come from and found out that they are not authorized by the mother company of the vaccine.)

“And with that, nakikita namin medyo spurious ang kanilang pagpasok dito and even offering it to different LGUs. That’s why we made a nationwide alert with the LGUs that if they will conduct negotiations with the different vaccine companies, it should be properly coordinated with us,” he added.

(And with that, we saw that their entry here is spurious as they even offered it to different LGUs. That’s why we made a nationwide alert with the LGUs that if they will conduct negotiations with the different vaccine companies, it should be properly coordinated with us.)

Galvez then expressed alarm that this kind of practice will “pose a serious threat to the safety and efficacy of our vaccination program” hence cases will likely be filed against these companies.

“Yes, definitely, if we found some merits of filing these cases,” Galvez said.

“Considering that they misrepresent the companies, we also asked the different companies, manufacturing companies to really police their ranks so we can assure that our dealings will be on top of the table, [and] at the same time, it is within the purview of the recently approved legislation that we have.”

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night warned the private sector against spreading fake COVID-19 vaccines. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1412787/duterte-warns-private-sector-dont-dare-release-fake-covid-19-vaccines

The Food and Drug Administration also warned the public against COVID-19 vaccines being sold online as these are fake. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1412931/beware-covid-19-vaccines-sold-online-are-fake-fda