Metro Manila mayors urged to penalize unauthorized COVID-19 inoculations

Metro Manila mayors are being urged to create ordinances penalizing individuals involved in unauthorized COVID-19 inoculations using government vaccines.

The Metro Manila Council (MMC) passed a resolution calling for local executives to require vaccine recipients to declare under oath that they have not yet been fully inoculated for COVID-19.

MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos stated that unauthorized vaccinations, particularly as booster shots, are prohibited under the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for COVID-19 vaccines.

He emphasized that misrepresenting vaccine status is strictly forbidden and that all parties involved, including vaccinators, vaccine recipients, and facilitators, must be held accountable.

MMC Resolution No. 21-18 highlights that such actions violate the National Immunization Program and the EUA, potentially harming unvaccinated Filipinos and delaying herd immunity.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año supports the call for mayors to draft policies penalizing persons getting unauthorized booster shots and has ordered the police to probe such incidents.

Just last week, two fully vaccinated persons were charged for violating an ordinance on Covid-19 vaccination fraud after receiving booster shots using government-provided vaccines.