Malacañang called on the local government units (LGUs) to pass an ordinance against selling COVID-19 vaccine slots.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a briefing on Tuesday (May 25) that the selling of COVID-19 vaccine slots is illegal since the COVID-19 vaccines are free of charge.
“Ang panawagan nga po namin sa mga lokal na pamahalaan ay kung pupwede po magpasa rin sila ng ordinansa na nagpapataw ng parusa doon sa magbebenta ng slots, para malinaw po na mayroon tayong legal na basehan para parusahan ang mga taong gumagawa nito.”
He added that it is against the Philippines’ commitment to the COVAX Facility of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the principle of “equitable access.”
“Ang babala po natin ay hindi po natin papayagan iyan, dahil that goes against iyong prinsipyo na ang ating policy for vaccination na kinakailangan equitable. Kapag ikaw po ay bumili ng slot, ibig sabihin iyong mga may pera ang mauuna at mapapahamak po pati iyong ating obligasyon sa COVAX facility.”
Roque reiterated that no vaccines are covered by commercial use authorization because they are still under the experimental use authorization.
“Kapag sinasabi pong experimental use ay tayo po ay nasa clinical stage 4 at wala pa pong karapatan na ibenta iyan. Lahat po iyan ay subject pa sa masusing pag-aaral kung ano ang magiging epekto nga. So kapag kayo po ay nabenta, labag po iyan doon sa batas na bumubuo ng FDA because you are engaging in illegal sale and distribution of a drug na hindi pa po covered ng commercial use,” he explained.
The authorities were recently alarmed due to the report of selling vaccine slots in the cities of San Juan and Mandaluyong where a slot costs ₱12,000 to ₱15,000. (PTV News)/NGS-rir
