Malacañang appealed to the public to not go to different local government units (LGUs) to get coronavirus (COVID-19) booster shots, saying there were still many people who have not received a single dose yet.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after two men were charged in Quezon City for getting a "booster" shot of another vaccine brand despite completing their two Sinovac jabs.
In his press briefing on Monday, August 16, Roque said the Palace does not tolerate the act and appealed to the public to wait for the country to achieve population protection or vaccinating members of the population who are susceptible to COVID-19 and are likely to show severe symptoms.
"Hindi po natin kinukunsinti 'yan dahil marami pa pong hindi nababakunahan (We do not tolerate it because there are still a lot of people who are not yet vaccinated)," he said.
"Hayaan muna nating magkaroon ng population protection ang lahat bago tayo mag-booster shots (Let us wait until we achieve population protection before we get booster shots)," he added.
Roque, meanwhile, said overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and seafarers may be an exception to the rule, noting that some employers require specific COVID-19 vaccine brands for their workers.
He, however, asked OFWs and seafarers to only get the vaccine brand they needed so many people can get vaccinated against COVID-19.
"Kung kayo po ay isang seafarer na alam niyong kinakailangan niyo ng particular brand, 'wag na po kayong magpa-inject ng iba pang brand (If you are a seafarer and you know you need a particular brand, do not get injected with other brands)," Roque said.
"Kumuha na po kayo ng brand na nire-require ng inyong mga employers para sa ganoon maibigay naman natin ang ibang mga bakuna sa ibang mga nangangailangan din (Only get the brand that your employers require so we can give the other brands to those who need it)," he added.
As of August 15, a total of 27,806,881 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered with 12,565,017 individuals getting the required two doses.