Palace: No one has the right to sell vaccination slots

MANILA, Philippines — Nobody has the right to sell COVID-19 vaccination slots, Malacañang said Monday as it warned jail time for individuals caught doing such illegal acts.

“‘Yun namang nagbebenta ng slot e yan po ay ipinagbabawal rin natin. Pupuwede rin po tayong maprosecute para po doon sa paglilinlang na krimen,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in his regular press briefing.

(Selling slots of vaccination is prohibited. We can prosecute them for deception.)

“Kasi wala naman pong karapatan ang kahit sino na magbenta ng kanilang slot,” he added.

(Nobody has the right to sell their slots.)

Roque also reminded the public that no vaccine has been authorized for sale, hence those who are selling jabs will be dealt with by the law.

“Wala pong bakuna na binebenta dahil wala pa pong bakuna na nabigyan ng commercial use,” Roque said.

(No vaccine is being sold because no vaccine has been approved for commercial use.)

“So kapag kayo po ay nahuli na nagbebenta ng bakuna na wala pang commercial use, pupuwede po kayong makulong sang-ayon po sa batas na nagbuo ng Food and Drug [Administration] sa Pilipinas,” he added.

(If you are caught selling vaccines that have yet to secure approval for commercial use, you may be jailed in accordance with the law that formed the Food and Drug Administration.)

All COVID-19 vaccines in the Philippines have only been given an emergency use authorization.

Malacañang issued the stern warning after slots for COVID-19 vaccination in Mandaluyong City and San Juan City were reportedly sold for as much as P12,000, depending on the vaccine brand.

Authorities have since launched an investigation regarding the sale of these vaccination slots.

JE