Galvez condemns selling of vaccines

MANILA, Philippines — The illegal sale of COVID-19 vaccines by a nurse in Manila drew condemnation from the National Task Force against COVID-19 (NTF) yesterday, even as authorities assured the public that the contraband was not sourced from the city’s vaccine supply.

“The Philippine government strongly condemns the illegal selling of any COVID-19 vaccines, which was witnessed by operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation,” NTF chief implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said in a statement.

Last July 1, NBI agents arrested Alexis Francisco de Guzman, a nurse at the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center (GABMMC) in Manila, for the alleged unauthorized/unlawful sale of Sinovac vaccines.

“We believe this type of unscrupulous activity does not only hamper the efficient and effective rollout of our national vaccination program, but also puts our countrymen in danger with the selling and eventual use of unverified anti-COVID-19 vaccines,” Galvez said.
The Manila Public Information Office, headed by Julius Leonen, said the vaccines allegedly being sold by De Guzman were not sourced from the supply of the Manila Health Department.

“These COVID-19 vaccines are highly regulated and highly controlled by the LGU,” assured Leonen.

The GABMMC management also issued a statement, saying: “We would like to respectfully inform the public that Mr. De Guzman has never been part of this team and has never been involved in the handling of vaccines. In addition, he has never transacted with this hospital’s Pharmacy section regarding the transport or custody of vaccines.”
It assured full cooperation with investigating authorities and stressed that it does not condone or tolerate such illegal actions that paint the GABMMC and its staff in a bad light.
Last Friday, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno ordered the GABMMC director to conduct administrative proceedings and file appropriate administrative charges against De Guzman.
Galvez emphasized that all vaccines against COVID-19 are only covered by an emergency use authorization issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and, as such, cannot be commercially sold.

“The NTF is taking this matter seriously,” he said, adding that a follow-up operation to trace everyone involved with De Guzman are charged or penalized under Republic Act 11525 (COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act 2021).

Also, Galvez revealed that the lot numbers of the vaccines seized from the nurse have already been traced.

“We already identified the lot numbers of vaccines and a combined follow up operation is now being conducted by a composite team of the FDA, NBI, AFP intelligence unit and Philippine National Police to apprehend the offenders,” Galvez said.

He also thanked Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra and the NBI for taking swift action on the matter. — Ralph Edwin Villanueva