Stiff penalty for illicit sale of COVID vaccines – DOH
THE Department of Health (DOH) is eyeing stiff penalties for the illegal sale of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the alleged illegal sellers of COVID-19 vaccines should be punished stiffly for compromising the national government’s vaccination program.
“Talagang ito dapat mapatawan ng kapurasan na hindi makakalimutan ng mapaparusahan. Huwag po bastusin at walang hiyain ang napakagadang program na magbibigay ng protection sa bawat Pilipino laban sa COVID,” he said.
Duque questioned how these sellers were able to store the COVID-19 vaccines that require certain temperature to keep their efficacy.
On Friday, the DOH reminded the public that COVID-19 vaccines are not for sale, referring to the arrest of three alleged sellers of Sinovac jabs.
National Bureau of Investigation agents on Thursday arrested three of four suspects in the illegal sale of COVID-19 vaccines.
The arrested suspects will face charges for violation of the Food and Drug Administration Act.
A supposed COVID-19 vaccine selling scheme also came to light in May when a suspected seller surrendered and denied the allegations against him.
The Philippines has so far received over 17 million doses of various vaccines against COVID-19, with 7.5 million individuals vaccinated as of June 27.
