NCR mayors urged to pass ordinances vs persons getting COVID booster shots

(FILE) People get vaccinated inside their cars at a drive-thru vaccination site at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila as the NCR shifts back to ECQ from August 6 to 20 due to the rising COVID-19 cases. INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila mayors are urged to pass ordinances or issue executive orders to stop persons getting booster shots or additional COVID-19 vaccine shots.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos on Sunday said the Metro Manila Council (MMC), through a resolution, encouraged the 17 Metro Manila mayor to stop these activities.

“Let me reiterate that the national government does not allow ‘booster’ vaccinations as of today. Hence, misrepresentation of vaccine status is strongly prohibited,” Abalos said in a statement.

READ: DOH on COVID booster shots: Not enough vaccine supply; insufficient data on benefits

“All individuals such as, but not limited to vaccinators, vaccinees, and facilitators who are found to be responsible for such acts should be held accountable, based on existing laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations,” Abalos added.

Abalos also asked the local government units to require the vaccinees to declare a patient vaccination form that states that they have not been fully vaccinated prior to their appointment.

To recall, the Quezon City government has filed charges against two fully vaccinated persons for allegedly getting a third vaccine shot in the city.

Both patients were fully vaccinated with Sinovac, but each got a third Pfizer and Moderna shot in Quezon City.

MMDA Resolution No, 21-18 was unanimously approved on Friday. The MMC, composed of the 17 mayors of Metro Manila, is the governing and policy-making body of the MMDA.

“There were reports that some fully-vaccinated persons are getting inoculated utilizing government-procured COVID-19 vaccines as booster shots in violation of the National Immunization Program and the EUA and thus detrimental to the unvaccinated Filipinos and thereby unnecessarily delaying the realization of population protection,” the MMDA resolution No. 21-18 read.

“The Department of Health does not recommend booster shots in view of the quantity of vaccine supply relative to the number of persons in the priority sectors and its subgroups as well as the lack of scientific evidence that a booster is necessary for full protection against the coronavirus,” it added.

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