Healthcare professionals alarmed over use of unregistered vaccines

An alliance of more than 160 health professional organizations on Tuesday called for the safe and transparent use of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines amid reports that vaccines yet to be approved had been used for inoculations.

After Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said there was no need to be transparent if a COVID-19 vaccine was donated to a private individual, the Healthcare Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19 (HPAAC) pointed out that even if a vaccine was approved in other countries, its storage, transport, and distribution were complex procedures.

“Improper handling can damage vaccines and can render them useless. This is why distribution channels and processes need to be transparent and regulated,” HPAAC said in its statement.

On Saturday, President Rodrigo Duterte announced that some members of the military had been inoculated with the vaccine developed by Chinese firm Sinopharm, which had not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Though Presidential Security Group (PSG) commander Brigadier General Jesus Durante III also admitted that his unit acquired the COVID-19 vaccine for free, he refused to disclose its source.

According to the HPAAC, all information regarding the use of the vaccines and their effects should be “properly documented and monitored” as they are still in various stages of clinical trials and were not yet approved for commercial use.

“Such surveillance is only possible with proper regulation and coordination with health authorities,” the HPAAC said.

“The success of any vaccination program is hinged on mutual trust between the public and institutions. We, therefore, urge our leaders and the general public to address these three concerns as we move forward together,” it added.

The HPAAC also discouraged the use of vaccines that have not yet been approved by the FDA.

FDA director-general Eric Domingo said they were looking into the inoculation of PSG personnel reportedly using an unregistered vaccine manufactured by Chinese firm Sinopharm.

Malacañang, meanwhile, urged the public not to think ill of the unregistered COVID-19 vaccine given to some members of the PSG, saying it was a donation and hence no public funds were used.

Meanwhile, health workers and senior citizens lamented getting overtaken by members of the PSG on the COVID-19 vaccine priority list. — DVM, GMA News