Covid-19 vaccines are not for sale - DOH

Tabuk City, Kalinga – The Department of Health on Thursday, March 18, 2021, has warned the public to be cautious about individuals and groups selling or offering any Covid-19 vaccine.

In a joint advisory, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Task Force Against Covid-19 (NTF) stated that the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) granted to governments to use Covid-19 vaccine is neither a marketing authorization nor a Certificate of Product Registration, thus, no covid-19 vaccine is allowed to be sold to the public.

The marketing and sale of said vaccine, the agency said, is currently prohibited and punishable by law.

“The manufacture, importation, exportation, sale, offering for sale, distribution, transfer, non-consumer use, promotion, advertising, or sponsorship of any unregistered health product is also prohibited and will be penalized under the FDA Act of 2009,” the advisory stated.

Person caught violating such act will face charges which include imprisonment from one to 10 years or a fine of P50,000 to P500,000 upon conviction.

For manufacturers, importers and distributors of health products, the advisory said they shall face charges of at least five to 10 years imprisonment and will be penalized with an amount of at least P500,000 to P5,000, 000 if found guilty.

“Furthermore, there will be an additional fine of one percent of the economic value/cost of the product or the violation or P1,000 whichever is higher, for each day of continuing violations,” it added.

As recalled, DOH, FDA and NTF have also said that tripartite agreements with private sector partners only authorize them to provide vaccines in accordance with the Covid-19 vaccination prioritization framework.

“The safety and quality of vaccines purchased unlawfully cannot be guaranteed as these may be counterfeit or have not been transported in the right temperature. The public is reminded that counterfeit or spoiled vaccines may result in serious harm or injury, even death,” they further said.

OTHER NEWS

Mamba orders police to penalize Covid-19 protocol violators

ADVERTISEMENT

Follow Guru Press Cordillera on Facebook for more News and Information