The Department of Health (DOH) asked the public not to entertain people who are offering to sell coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines.
"Ang tanging paalala lang natin sa ating mga kababayan, huwag kayong mag entertain ng mga nagbebenta sa inyo (We are reminding our citizens not to entertain those who are selling vaccines)," said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Saturday, July 3.
"It's just the national government through your local governments na maaring makapagbigay sa inyo ng bakunang ito. Lahat ng bakuna na meron tayo sa bansa ay libre. Hindi niyo kailangan magbayad (It's just the national government through your local governments that can give you this vaccine. All the vaccines we have in the country are free. You don't have to pay)," she added.
Related story: DOH reminds public: COVID-19 vaccines cannot be sold
Illegal sellers of COVID-19 vaccines should be punished, said DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III in a radio interview.
“Talagang ito dapat mapatawan ng kapurasan na talagang hindi makakalimot itong mapaparusahan (They should be punished to teach them a lesson),” he said
“Huwag po natin bastusin at walanghiyain ang napakagadang program na magbibigay proteksyon sa bawat Pilipino laban sa COVID (Let us not disrespect this good program that will provide protection to every Filipino against COVID),” he added.
Recently, three people were arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation for allegedly selling COVID-19 vaccines.