Duterte threatens dealers of fake COVID-19 vaccines

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night threatened unscrupulous individuals who would engage in the trade of fake COVID-19 vaccines.

Duterte made the remark after he ordered vaccines czar Secretary Carlito Galvez to allow the private sector to import vaccines against the coronavirus.

“‘Wag ninyo akong pilitin baka pulutin talaga kayo kung saan-saan,” Duterte said in his weekly talk to the people.

“I’m just warning you, ‘wag na ‘wag kayong magkamali dito. Hirap na ang Pilipino tapos dadagdagan mo ng ganitong pamamaraan na hanapbuhay. Pupulutin ka talaga kung saan, ‘di ako nagbibiro,” he added.

Last month, the Department of the Interior and Local Government directed the Philippine National Police to arrest people who are selling or administering fake COVID-19 vaccines.

The private sector had earlier asked the government to allow it to import and buy COVID-19 vaccines directly from accredited sources without restrictions or conditions.

To date, private firms are not allowed to purchase vaccines on their own because according to Galvez, every COVID-19 vaccine currently in use has only received an emergency use authorization and not a commercial use authorization.

This means that the manufacturer will not shoulder indemnification costs for any adverse effects experienced by vaccine recipients.--NB, GMA News