COVID-19 jabs sold illegally unfit for use – FDA

MANILA, Philippines — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday warned the public that COVID-19 vaccines sold illegally are unfit for use as there is no guarantee that these were handled properly and stored at the right temperature.

FDA chief Eric Domingo said COVID-19 vaccines confiscated recently by authorities from illegal sellers were found to be genuine but unfit for use.

“Hindi na maaaring gamitin ‘yan… Hindi mo na kasi alam ‘yung integrity ng cold chain, ng pagha-handle niyan, at ‘pag ganyang merong doubt, hindi na po natin pinapayagang gamitin sa tao ang ganyang bakuna,” Domingo said in an interview on GMA News.

He said the vaccines should be stored at the right temperature to ensure efficacy.

According to Domingo, the packaging of the seized vaccines had been opened. A video showed the vaccines were stored in a cooler inside a vehicle.

The FDA said they are tracking down the source of the vaccines to determine whether these were smuggled into the country or taken from the government’s stockpile.

Domingo urged the public to report suspected COVID-19 vaccine vendors to the FDA.

He said COVID vaccines should not be sold commercially as the FDA has only issued emergency use authorization for the jabs.

President Duterte has warned illegal sellers of vaccines that they would be arrested and charged.

2 vaccine sellers nabbed

Meanwhile, two persons were apprehended in Pasay for allegedly selling AstraZeneca, Sinovac and Pfizer vaccines online, police said yesterday.

Michelle Parajes, 35, and Angelo Bonganay, 28, were arrested by operatives of the Southern Police District in an entrapment operation.

Complainant Dayrelle Esteban, a nurse, said the suspects used her identity to convince buyers.

Esteban said the suspects were selling the vaccines at a cheap price.

Esteban said she purchased 56 vials of vaccines worth P120,000 from the suspects.

After giving the suspects P50,000 as downpayment, Esteban said she confirmed that the suspects were using her name in their illegal activity.

Esteban reported the suspects to the police, resulting in their arrest.

The suspects are facing charges of estafa, swindling and violation of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

Pasay police chief Col. Cesar Paday-os said they did not recover COVID vaccines from the suspects.

“They tried to sell COVID vaccines by using the Professional Regulation Commission license of the complainant,” he said.

Last week, the National Bureau of Investigation arrested a nurse and two others for allegedly selling 300 doses of Sinovac jabs for P840,000. – Ralph Edwin Villanueva