Palace warned resellers of free COVID-19 vaccines.
Malacañang warned that any person who sells free COVID-19 vaccines to be given by the Philippine government would face legal trouble and possibly jail time.
During a press conference aired on state television last Thursday, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that estafa charges could be filed against those who demanded payment from people to get inoculated with the COVID-19 vaccine doses secured by the Philippine government.
“Lahat po ng bakuna, libre. Kapag mayroon pong maningil, ipapahuli po natin sa estafa, ipapakulong natin. Ang pangako ng Presidente, libreng bakuna sa lahat ng Pilipino,” Roque said.
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Roque issued the warning ahead of the arrival of the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines in the Philippines. At least 600,000 Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine doses donated by China were expected to be delivered to Manila on February 28, 2021.
According to Roque, the Philippine government’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout could start by March 1 — a day after the arrival of China’s Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine supply.
Meanwhile, Roque said that the Philippine government’s list of priority beneficiaries would still be observed.
Under the immunization plan, health workers were first in the inoculation line, followed by seniors, poor and vulnerable citizens, and uniformed personnel and other essential workers.
Given the recommendation made by the Food and Drug Administration on the emergency use of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines, Roque said that the medical frontliners could decide whether or not to take the vaccine.
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