The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday (July 2) reminded the public to receive their COVID-19 vaccines only from the government’s vaccination program.
The reminder came after a report of three individuals involved in the alleged illegal sale of COVID-19 vaccines were arrested in Quezon City.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire emphasized that the vaccines are free and not for sale.
“Ako’y nalulungkot na bakit kailangang magkaroon ng ganitong pagkakataon na people are taking advantage of what we have right now, kulang na kulang na po tayo sa resources,” she said.
“Sa local government units lang o national government kayo po magpapalista ng pagbabakuna. Huwag po kayong bibili sa ibang mga tao dahil wala po silang pagkukunan ng bakunang yan,” she reminded.
One of the apprehended individuals by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is a nurse at the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center (GABMMC) in Manila. However, the Manila local government unit (LGU) asserted that these vaccines were not sourced from the supply of the Manila Health Department.
“Highly regulated and highly controlled natin ang inventory ng Manila City government ‘pag dating sa supply ng bakuna. May mga control number ‘yan, may serial number,” Manila Public Information Office Chief Julius Leonen asserted.
Moreover, in a statement, GABMMC Hospital Director Dr. Teodoro Martin said the nurse was “never part of [their vaccination] team.”
“We respectfully inform the public that Mr. [Alexis] De Guzman has never been part of this team and has never been involved in the handling of vaccines. In addition, he has never transacted with this hospital’s Pharmacy Section regarding the transport or custody of vaccines,” he said.
Meanwhile, the DOH claimed that the viral videos of some vaccine volunteers failing to properly administer the jabs are not connected to the alleged selling of vaccines.
Vergeire said they were all human errors and unintentional.
“We do not intend to penalize anybody. Iniimbestigahan po natin lahat yan para mas maging maganda ang ginagawa natin in the coming days. Now kung halimbawa, ito ay intentional na ginawa, dyan po talaga we will penalize.”
The department also guaranteed that the government offers refresher courses to vaccinators.
Report from Mark Fetalco/NGS-rir
