Manila Bulletin
FDA warns public vs 'fake' COVID-19 vaccines being sold online
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.
Dr. Oscar Gutierrez Jr. of the FDA stated that no COVID-19 vaccines are currently approved for online sale, and buying them poses health risks and supports criminal activity.
The FDA emphasized that only four COVID-19 vaccines have received emergency use authorization (EUA) in the Philippines: Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Sinovac's CoronaVac, and Gamaleya's Sputnik V.
An EUA allows unregistered vaccines to be used during a public health emergency but does not constitute a product registration or marketing authorization.
Fake COVID-19 vaccines can be ineffective, provide a false sense of security, and contain hazardous substances that could lead to toxicity or death.
The FDA also clarified that no COVID-19 vaccines are permitted for sale in drug outlets, clinics, or hospitals in the Philippines.
The only definitive way to distinguish between genuine and counterfeit vaccines is through laboratory testing.
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