QC files raps vs. two who got booster shots despite being fully vaccinated

The Quezon City government on Friday filed complaints against two individuals who received booster shots in the city despite already being fully vaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In a statement, City Attorney Orlando Paolo Casimiro said the two individuals violated city ordinance SP3032 s-2021, otherwise known as “An Ordinance Prohibiting COVID-19 Vaccine Fraud.”

“The complaints have been sworn into the Office of the City Prosecutor to send a strong message that the City Government takes the vaccination and other pandemic-related programs very seriously,” Casimiro said.

“In essence, these people are stealing the vaccines which could save the lives of others, not to mention making a mockery out of the efforts of our frontline workers. We will make sure that once proven, these individuals will be punished accordingly to the fullest extent of the law,” he added.

Violators will be given a fine of P5,000 and/ or imprisonment of not less than one month and a maximum of six months, or both at the discretion of the court.

According to the local government, one individual received two doses of the Sinovac vaccine in Mandaluyong City on May 10 then received another dose of the Moderna vaccine in Quezon City this week.

Meanwhile, the other received two doses of Sinovac at one of the city’s vaccination centers and then received a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte strongly condemned this, calling the men “greedy and selfish.”

“We in the local government are taking this matter seriously. We will not tolerate actions like this especially that a good number of individuals have yet to receive their first vaccine dose, not just in our city but in our country in general,” she said.

“Nagkakagulo na nga para lang makakuha ng bakuna ang mga tao, may manlalamang pa,” Mayor Belmonte said.

(People are already clamoring to get vaccinations, and yet some are still taking advantage of the situation.)

QC Task Force Vax co-chair Joseph Juico also said the LGU is looking into requiring the signing of additional forms or waivers to prevent the same situation.

“We appeal to all to be considerate of others during this pandemic. The demand is high but the supply is limited,” Juico said.

The Department of Health (DOH) has said it was looking into the mixing of COVID-19 vaccines. In late July, health authorities held a meeting to discuss a plan to study the mixing of COVID-19 vaccine brands.

For his part, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Friday said his department is looking into any law or ordinance that prohibits an individual from taking a booster shot.

“We also need to be guided by reliable medical information on whether the original vaccination is efficacious enough as to make a ‘booster’ shot unnecessary, unethical, or unlawful,” Guevarra said in a message to reporters. —NB, GMA News