No vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been approved yet, the Department of Health reminded the public Monday following reports that two lawmakers got vaccinated for the disease.
Over the weekend, reports broke out that Senator Panfilo Lacson and House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez were allegedly given a dose of a vaccine against COVID-19.
During a press briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire reminded the public that there is still no approved vaccine against the disease at present and that access to such vaccine shall be allowed only after it has hurdled all required processes.
“Gusto natin sabihin sa mga kababayan na wala pang approved na bakuna na puwedeng gamitin sa ating bansa para sa COVID. Pinapaalalahan natin lahat ng kababayan na until there is this registered vaccine from FDA (Food and Drug Administration), doon tayo dapat magkaroon ng pag-access nito (We would like to remind the public that there is still no approved vaccine for COVID-19 in the country. We are reminding everyone that until there this registered vaccine from FDA, it’s the only time we can access them),” Vergeire said.
The undersecretary also explained that the reason the public has to wait until a vaccine is registered is to ensure that it is safe and effective. Until there is no FDA-registered vaccine yet, Filipinos are told to be cautious at receiving doses of unregistered vaccines.
“This is not the right way to do it,” Vergeire said.
“Mag-ingat po tayo at kumuha lamang tayo ng bakunang ito ‘pag may registered na o pag mag-umpisa na ang clinical trial natin. Sa ngayon, ituloy muna ang minimum health standards (We have to be careful and only get vaccinated when there is already a registered one and when the clinical trials begin. For now, continue practicing minimum health standards),” the health official added.
Manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors were also warned over selling and distributing unregistered products like vaccines.
They were also urged to wait for regulatory procedures to be done or else they would face sanctions.
“Merong kaukulang sanctions ito pong mga nagbibigay ng ganito ng walang rehistro. Pinapaalahanan naming kayo na please antayin matapos ang regulatory procedures natin bago mag-distribute ng ganitong bakuna (There are sanctions against those who distribute unregistered vaccines. We are appealing to them to please wait for regulatory procedures to be completed before distributing),” Vergeire said.
“We are now talking about the lives of people. Public health should be protected,” she added.