By Christine Fabro and Pearl Anne Gumapos
The National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 has raised concerns with emerging reports of illicit selling of anti-COVID-19 vaccines.
This follows a viral social media posts showing the local government units (LGUs) of Mandaluyong and San Juan selling COVID-19 vaccines wherein according to a citizen alias “Norman,” the Pfizer vaccine was offered to him for the price of ₱15,000, while an AstraZeneca vaccine slot was being sold for 10,000.
The NTF, in a statement, reminded the public that “anti-COVID vaccines are FREE for all qualified citizens. They are not for sale. Thus, the selling of vaccines or of the priority slots is deemed illegal and punishable by law.”
It also said that all the vaccines procured by the national government are not for commercial distribution and that the priority slots are strictly intended for the A1, A2, and A3 priority groups only.
In relation to this, the NTF lauded the local chief executives of the cities of Manadaluyong and San Juan for taking swift actions and necessary steps to address the issue.
Mandaluyong City Mayor Carmelita Abalos said in a statement that the city condemns the reprehensible and downright illegal acts and said that anyone caught selling vaccines or vaccine slots to the public shall be charged in court.
Likewise, San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said that whoever is claiming to have contact within the San Juan City LGU to sell the vaccine slots is propagating a scam which members of the San Juan City vaccination team is not part of.
Both have then tasked the authorities for an immediate and thorough investigation of the matter.
CIDG to hunt the illicit sellers of COVID-19 vaccines
The Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar has also tasked the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on May 22 to lead the probe on the “under the table” sale of government-purchased COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination slots.
“Tutugisin natin para panagutin sa batas ang mga pasimuno at gumagawa ng ganitong modus, as per the directive of Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Eduardo Año,” Eleazar said in a PNP press release.
Eleazar said that the selling of COVID-19 vaccines granted the emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was illegal as the FDA did not yet approve the marketing or sale of any of the vaccines.
He added that all civilians have to do is to have themselves registered and wait for their turn to be vaccinated, because there is a priority list that is being followed by the national government.
Furthermore, Eleazar and NTF urged the public to let authorities know of any person selling COVID-19 vaccines or vaccination slots.
Record daily vaccination rate since March
The Philippines has recorded its highest daily vaccination rate since the National Vaccination Program was rolled out in March, as the government administered 229,769 vaccine doses on May 20, breaking its previous highest record of 120,529 jabs on May 15, based on a report from the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
NTF Against COVID-19 Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said that the government is eyeing to administer at least two million shots in May following the steady arrival of anti-COVID vaccines.
“We are now moving past the crawl stage as we begin to walk. However, this is not yet enough as our main goal is to run, where we will be able to administer at least half a million doses or more daily. And I am certain that if we keep this momentum, along with the continuous delivery of vaccines throughout the country, we can make this happen,” said Galvez.
The vaccine czar also said that all vaccines used in the national immunization program are safe and effective, as these have undergone the rigorous review process by the country’s vaccine experts, according to PIA. –rir
