The Department of Health (DoH) warned the public Friday not to take COVID-19 vaccines that are unregistered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as it "could do more harm than good."

“We would like to warn and advise the public na kapag gumamit po tayo ng mga hindi rehistrado or authorize na bakuna para sa inyong pamilya or para sa inyo, hindi po natin maga-guarantee ‘yung safety or if it will be efficacious….this may cause more harm than good (We would like to warn and advise the public that when you use unregistered or unauthorized vaccines, we cannot guarantee its safety or if it will be efficacious….this may cause more harm than good),” said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

Vergeire said that the FDA has yet to receive any application from vaccine developers to register their COVID-19 candidate vaccines in the country.

“Wala pa pong rehistrado or authorize na vaccine para gamitin sa ating populasyon,” said Vergeire.

“Nakikiusap po kami, hintayin lang po natin ang mga rehistradong bakuna na papasok sa ating bansa dahil itong mareregister sa FDA, makakapagbigay kami ng garantiya na ito ay dadaan sa proseso: na-evalaute ng mga eksperto (We are appealing, let us wait for the vaccines that will be registered with the FDA, as we can guarantee that these will undergo the (regulatory) process and will be evaluated by our experts) and we can say that these will be safe and efficacious for the population,” she added.

Vergeire urged the public to report those who are supplying unregistered vaccines to hold them liable.

“Kung sakaling meron kayong impormasyon tungkol dito or mga reports na natatanggap, maari lamang pong idulog sa aming tanggapan para kami ay makagawa na agad ng imbestigasyon at mapigilan ang ganitong iligal na practice (In case you have any information about this or reports received, please contact our office so that we can immediately conduct an investigation and prevent such illegal practice),” she said.