FDA warns public vs. getting unregistered COVID-19 ‘vaccines’

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chief Eric Domingo on Thursday warned the public against getting shots of unregistered vaccines against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) amid reports of certain personalities getting immunization.

According to Raffy Tima’s “24 Oras” report, a businessman interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB claimed that he had already received a COVID-19 vaccine along with tycoons and politicians.

A businessman who was only identified as “Roberto” said he and his friends were vaccinated well before the United Kingdom launched the world’s first massive vaccination program against COVID-19.

"Pilipino 'yung doktor, Pilipino 'yung nurse… Lima kami no'ng pumunta do'n. ‘Yung mga magkakaibigan. Pero sabi ko nga, tinry namin, chineck namin 'yung iba naming mga kasama kung may reaksyon ba sa katawan nila,” he said.

Roberto did not mention the brand of vaccine that he allegedly received but said it was made in China.

"Iche-check 'yung anti-bodies mo kung mataas o bumababa. So far, okay naman 'yung sa akin. Hindi ito mga ordinaryong negosyante para ma-scam at saka hindi naman sila nagbebenta,” he said.

Domingo said it was unlikely that Roberto was truly injected with a COVID-19 vaccine.

“Hindi naman 'yan parang pagkain lang na binili mo, puwede mong ilagay sa freezer bag tapos lakad-lakarin mo, iba-biyahe mo tapos iiniksyon mo sa tao. So very ano talaga, very doubtful,” he said.

Domingo added that there was no assurance of the supposed vaccine’s efficacy since it did not go through the FDA.

"Nabakunahan ka na, hindi ka na puwede ngayong magpabakuna doon sa iba dahil may possible na reaksyon o mga cross reaction with the previous vaccine. So you put yourself in a very difficult position na parang nabakunahan ka na,” he said.

“At the same time, wala ka namang documentation na ikaw ay nabakunahan na nga.”

Senator Panfilo Lacson and House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez were earlier reported to have received a COVID-19 vaccine similar to the one manufactured by American firm Pfizer. 

Lacson later dismissed it as a joke but did not categorically deny getting vaccinated against COVID-19. 

The Manila City government, meanwhile, has ordered a probe on rumors that COVID-19 vaccines were being administered in Binondo. 

“Until now e wala pa silang makita at makipagbigay na statement tungkol sa mga bagay na ito kaya naman nananawagan ako sa mga merong nalalaman o impormasyon tungkol dito na puwede kayong makipag-ugnayan,” Manila Police District chief Police Brigadier General Leo Francisco said.—Julia Mari Ornedo/LDF, GMA News