(FILE) Tricycle and jeepney drivers make a quick stop at the Vaccine Express, a drive-thru vaccination initiative by the Office of the Vice President and the Quezon City local government at Robinsons Mall Novaliches parking lot on Thursday, August 12. INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday supported calls for the issuance of ordinances or executive orders penalizing persons who will get booster shots or additional COVID-19 vaccine shots.
This came after Metro Manila mayors on Friday signed a resolution urging local governments units to issue ordinances or executive orders that would prevent fully vaccinated persons from getting additional COVID-19 vaccine shots as boosters.
“Sa mga kumpleto na sa bakuna, huwag na nating agawan pa ang mga kababayan natin na kailangan din naman ng proteksyon,” PNP chief Guillermo Eleazar said in a statement.
(To those who are already vaccinated, let’s not take vaccines from those who still need protection.)
“Ito ay para na din sa kaligtasan ng lahat dahil hindi tayo sigurado kung may masamang epekto sa katawan ang booster shots lalo na kung iba-ibang brands ang naiturok sa atin,” he added.
(This is also for everyone’s safety because we are not sure if booster shots would have a bad effect on the body especially if different brands will be injected.)
Eleazar also reiterated that health experts have yet to provide recommendations on the use of booster shots against COVID-19 and its emerging variants.
“Bukod dito ay wala pa’ng rekomendasyon ang mga eksperto kung ligtas ba ang booster shots at kung tunay na epektibong proteksyon sa COVID-19 at iba’t-ibang variants nito,” Eleazar said.
(In addition, experts do not yet have a recommendation on whether booster shots are safe and whether it is effective against COVID-19 and its various variants.)
The Quezon City government on Friday 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 as “booster shots” in Quezon City.
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