COVID vaccine donations also need clearances, FDA says

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday said that donations of COVID-19 vaccines still require clearances from the agency before they are brought to the country.

In a press conference, FDA director general Eric Domingo said the vaccination of military personnel using unauthorized vaccines, which are now said to be donated, did not go through the process of clearance.

“The Department of Health [DOH] kasi does accept donations, like for food and drugs. But, usually if they are foreign donations, they go through the Bureau of Internal Health Cooperation,” he said.

“Then, the BIHC of the DOH coordinates with the FDA to get the necessary clearances for them to be able to brought it to the country. In this case, I do not think there was any process that was done,” he added.

According to Health Secretary Duque, these kinds of donations are usually requested.

“Usually, meron ‘yang mga  request by the requiring party  or the party that needs it. Halimbawa, special group patients,” Duque said during the press conference.

“These could be donated by outside entity. These will be sent through proper channel,” he added.

On Tuesday, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said that the vaccines administered to members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) were probably donated, considering the sale and distribution of them are illegal.

"For the PSG soldiers, mostly those who are protecting the President. And let's make it clear no: These vaccines are probably donated by someone who has access to that particular country,” Año said.

“There has been no commercial distribution, more on voluntary on the part of the soldiers," he added.

Philippine laws prohibit the manufacturing, importation, exportation, sale, distribution, and non-consumer use of unregistered products, according to FDA.

Violating manufacturers, importers, and distributors will be fined from P500,000 to P5 million.

On Saturday, President Rodrigo Duterte said that many members of the military have already been administered the COVID-19 vaccine from Chinese manufacturer Sinopharm, which has no approval yet from the FDA. — BM, GMA News