Businessman confirms unauthorized COVID-19 vaccination in the Philippines

A Filipino businessman has admitted getting a vaccine shot against COVID-19 in a clandestine location in the Philippines.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV on Thursday, "Roberto" said he received the China-made vaccine at a friend's house in November. A doctor and a nurse, both Filipino, were present, he said. He was with four of his friends. 

"Yung ginamit ko [na vaccine] made in China, kasi nga nagbibiruan kami, sabi ko siguro ito yung effective kasi dun nagsimula yung virus eh," he said.

The Philippines, which has yet to approve any form of  COVID-19 vaccination, is targeting two Chinese pharmaceutical companies for the vaccines -- Sinovac and Sinopharm.

Earlier this week, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, citing a Dobol B sa News TV report, tasked the city's police and health officials to investigate if there is any unauthorized COVID-19 vaccination activity in Binondo.

"If true, this is definitely unauthorized since the undersigned has not ordered the same nor is he aware or informed that any national government agency will already conduct the said activity," Moreno had said.

Research

Before receiving the shot following advice from friends who had received the vaccine before them, Roberto said he did his own research.

"Hindi ko naman ito dinesisyunan agad-agad [after] pagkasabi sa akin na available na pare ang vaccine dito... inalam ko rin. Tinanong ko yung mga pinakamatagal na gumamit, hanggang ngayon naman okay ang hitsura nila," he said.

Roberto said he and his friends, who are all businessmen, did not feel any side effects after receiving two doses of the vaccine two weeks apart.

"After two weeks babalik ka ulit para yung second bakuna mo, kasi oobserbahan kung may violent reaction sa katawan mo, nilagnat ka ba or may something na nangyari," he said.

"Sa akin wala naman, yung mga kaibigan ko wala naman, sa grupo namin wala."

Roberto said his friend paid for his vaccine and expressed confidence that they were not victims of a scam. He also doubts that the vaccine was a placebo.

Asked on how many of his friends have received the vaccine, Roberto said, "Marami na," adding most of them were businessmen, including foreign nationals.

He also said he was told that some politicians, including a senator, have received the same vaccine. He did not mention names but said learning this was one of the things that convinced him to try the vaccine himself.

"So hindi siya puwedeng sabihin na hindi totoo yung vaccine kasi yung tatak niya ay pinag-uusapan ngayon sa balita," he said.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III had earlier claimed that Senator Panfilo Lacson and House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez had received a COVID-19 vaccine "similar to Pfizers'." Lacson played coy about the issue while Romualdez did not issue a statement confirming or denying it.

Despite this, Roberto said he does not mean to disrespect the national government, which is still in the process of securing vaccines for COVID-19 from various sources.

"Ang amin lang dito, yung mga mayayamang bansa, yung mga neighboring countries natin dito sa Asya meron na (vaccine), bakit sa atin nagtatagal? Sa amin lang naman dito we need to protect the business, yung economy natin dapat nang gumalaw," he said. --KBK, GMA News