No registered COVID-19 vaccine yet, DOH says amid reports of access by two lawmakers

The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday warned manufacturers, distributors and suppliers against selling unregistered COVID-19 vaccines, amid reports that at least two lawmakers have already received it.

"Paalala po sa mga manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, may batas laban sa pamimigay at pagbebenta ng kahit anong bagay o technology, kasama na ang bakuna, na walang rehistro ng ating Food and Drug Administration (FDA)," said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire in an online forum.

Vergeire reminded the public that so far, the Philippine government has not approved any COVID-19 vaccine.

For a vaccine to be approved in the Philippines, the manufacturer must secure clearance from the Vaccine Experts Panel (VEP), the Ethics Board, and the FDA.

“Kaya po may regulatory process para masigurado na safe ang bakuna at efficacious, meaning magiging epektibo sa purpose sa pagbibigay ng bakuna,” Vergeire said.

“Sa ngayon, wala pang registered na COVID-19 vaccine sa FDA kaya dapat mag-ingat po ang ating mga kababayan,” she added.

Over the weekend, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Senator Panfilo Lacson and House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez got a vaccine against COVID-19

Lacson did not categorically denied Sotto's claim, but hinted that it may only be a joke.

"Ako, ang isang trip ko, kilala nila ako. Ang isang trip ko kapag nagbibiro ako, gustung-gusto ko 'yung merong senador na sumasayaw sa balat ng mani," he said Sunday.

"Kapag ganu'n, mga biro na akala mo totoong-totoo, 'yung sayaw nang sayaw naniniwala, pero actually biro. Having said that, let's leave it at that para wala nang pag-uusapan," Lacson added.

Only COVID-19 vaccines developed by American firms Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have been proven at least 94% effective in preventing COVID-19 infection after human trials so far, according to reports.

COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech requires an ultra low freezer storage of -70 to -80 degrees Celsius, making distribution a challenge for countries with a tropical climate and limited resources such as the Philippines.

The Philippines has recorded 418,818 COVID-19 cases so far. Of this number, 386,486 recovered while 8,123 died. These make the number of active COVID-19 cases at 24,209. —KBK, GMA News