Manila Bulletin
‘Don’t make a mistake’: Duterte warns private sector vs spreading fake vaccines
President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened individuals involved in the trade of fake COVID-19 vaccines, warning them of severe consequences.
Duterte's statement came after he instructed vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez to permit the private sector to import vaccines.
He emphasized the hardship faced by Filipinos and stated that profiting from fake vaccines would not be tolerated.
Previously, the Department of the Interior and Local Government had ordered the Philippine National Police to apprehend those selling or administering counterfeit vaccines.
The private sector had requested permission to directly import and purchase COVID-19 vaccines from accredited sources without restrictions.
Currently, private firms are not permitted to buy vaccines independently because the existing vaccines only have emergency use authorization, not commercial use authorization, meaning manufacturers will not cover costs for adverse effects.
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President Rodrigo Duterte stated that several countries have "shanghaied" COVID-19 vaccines, leading to a limited supply for other nations.
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President Rodrigo Duterte initially stated he would allow private companies to import COVID-19 vaccines "at will" to expedite vaccination efforts.
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President Rodrigo Duterte admitted that he is finding it difficult to manage the COVID-19 pandemic and that the task of procuring vaccines for the country is arduous.
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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to the public against purchasing COVID-19 vaccines online due to the prevalence of counterfeit products.
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National Task Force Against Covid-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. affirmed that the commercialization of Covid-19 vaccines is prohibited, even as President Rodrigo Duterte ordered him to facilitate private sector vaccine imports.
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