House bill seeks to criminalize vaccine hoarding, unauthorized vaccination

FILE PHOTO: Vials with Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine labels are seen in this illustration picture taken March 19, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

MANILA, Philippines — A bill seeking to criminalize hoarding of vaccines and unauthorized vaccination during public health emergencies has been filed in the House of Representatives.

Under House Bill No. 10106 filed by Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas, vaccine hoarding, unauthorized vaccination, and “over-vaccination” are prohibited and shall be sanctioned by imprisonment, fine, or both.

The bill defines vaccine hoarding as “the undue accumulation by a person or combination of persons of vaccines beyond their normal inventory levels as determined by the Department of Health (DOH); or the unreasonable limitation of distribution or refusal to dispose of, the stocks of vaccines to the general public.”

The bill likewise defines unauthorized vaccination as the administration of a vaccine by persons who are not authorized under the guidelines of the DOH.

Meanwhile, over-vaccination is receiving a vaccine by any person or group of persons beyond the approved vaccine dosage set by the DOH.

Depending on the degree of violation, a person may be sentenced to a penalty of 15 to 60 days imprisonment and a fine ranging from P100,000 to P500,000.

“Vaccine hoarding and the unauthorized vaccination in times of public health emergencies are selfish and detrimental to the collective recovery and protection of the Filipino people,” Vargas said.

“These acts are inimical to the public health system and the overall welfare of the public, thus, must be penalized,” he added.