Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. has condemned in the strongest terms the reported illegal selling of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines which could place the country's immunization program in jeopardy.
Galvez said the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19, which he leads as its chief implementer, has coordinated with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Intelligence Unit, Philippine National Police (PNP), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to run after individuals who are connected with the illegal activity.
"We believe this type of unscrupulous activity does not only hamper the efficient and effective rollout of our national vaccination program but also puts our countrymen in danger with the selling and eventual use of unverified anti-COVID 19 vaccines," he said on Friday night, July 2.
Last Wednesday, agents of the NBI Task Force Against Illegal Drugs (TFAID) arrested a medical frontliner and two cohorts in Tondo, Manila after they allegedly sold 300 doses of Sinovac's CoronaVac vaccines.
The suspects were identified as Alexis de Guzman, a hospital nurse in a hospital in Manila; Kour Singh; and Calvin Roca.
According to NBI TFAID director Ross Jonathan Galicia, the suspects were nabbed after they allegedly sold Sinovac shots to an undercover agent. The suspects' clients' were mostly Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) workers, he noted.
Galvez emphasized that the vaccines that are currently available in the country were only given an emergency use authorization (EUA) by the FDA which means that they cannot be sold commercially.
The vaccine czar said composite teams from the NBI, AFP, PNP, and FDA have conducted a follow up operation to apprehend the other cohorts of the suspects.
"The NTF is taking this matter seriously. We will ensure that a thorough investigation on the matter is conducted," he said.
He warned that individuals who will be caught engaged in the illegal selling of COVID-19 vaccines may be charged for violation of Republic Act 11525 or the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021.
"The national government’s mission is to provide safe, effective, and free vaccines to all Filipinos so that they can have an additional layer of protection against the disease and we can bring back a greater sense of normalcy to our country," Galvez said.
"We encourage the public to report these kinds of illicit activities so that we bring to justice those who are involved," he concluded.
At present, the country's vaccine supply stands at 17,455,470 doses. More than 11 million shots were already administered nationwide.