FILE PHOTO: The word “COVID-19” is reflected in a drop on a syringe needle in this illustration taken November 9, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
MANILA, Philippines — Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. on Thursday cautioned the public against entertaining persons selling COVID-19 vaccines, saying these could be fake and might compromise their safety.
“’Wag niyo pong i-entertainin ‘yun pong nagbebenta kasi hindi po natin alam na baka po ‘yung binebenta nila ay fake or substandard ang cold storage. Baka po magkaroon ng issue sa safety,” Galvez said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel.
(Don’t entertain persons selling vaccines because we don’t know if what they’re selling is fake or is under substandard cold storage. There might be safety issues.)
Galvez said the government will go after persons behind the illegal sale of anti-coronavirus vaccines as ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte.
A health worker in Manila was arrested earlier for allegedly selling Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines.
There have also been reports of COVID-19 vaccination slots being sold for as much as P12,000, depending on the vaccine brand. Authorities have since launched an investigation regarding this matter.
The government has repeatedly stressed that all COVID-19 vaccines currently administered are free of charge. No COVID-19 vaccine in the country has so far been approved for commercial use.