The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned that private companies are not allowed to sell COVID-19 vaccines ahead of the government’s vaccination roll out.

“Bawal po ‘yan at ‘wag kayong bibili dahil wala pa pong produkto sa buong mundo na may marketing authorization – ibig sabihin na fully developed na, na maaring ibenta sa publiko,” FDA Director General Eric Domingo said in a media briefing.

Healthcare Professionals Alliance against COVID-19 called out private companies purchasing vaccines are selling out to individuals.

All vaccines are still under development and trial hence they only get Emergency Use Authorization or EUA.

Domingo said that they are now discussing the issue with the health department to prevent the selling and purchase of COVID-19 vaccines.

“The DOH and FDA will be coming up with a statement to be very clear na ang bakuna ay maaari lang ma-access through the government vaccination program,” Domingo said.

The FDA chief also disclosed that they are working closely with the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Customs and the National Bureau of Investigation to make sure that fake vaccines will not enter the Philippines.

“Pag dumating ang genuine o authentic vaccines, ito rin ang time na maaring may sumabay na fake na vaccines. We have to be very very careful. Binabantayan naman po,” he said. (TDT)