ILOILO City – Councilor Ely Estante Jr. is eyeing a measure penalizing those who sell government-issued coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines including those who trade their vaccination slots here.
Vaccines against COVID-19 are not for sale, Estante emphasized.
“As of now all vaccines are given free by the national government. Ang pagbaligya sang vaccine through private transaction or even through social media is punishable by law,” Estante stressed.
He added that there may be those who sell their vaccination slots to others contrary to the vaccination prioritization framework of the government and the policy of equitable distribution of vaccines.
DOH-6 REMINDS
The Department of Health (DOH) also reminded the public that vaccines against COVID-19 are not for sale.
As of now, Dr. Jocelyn Te, medical officer IV of DOH Region 6, said only the national government through the DOH is authorized to dispense the vaccines specifically to local government units (LGUs).
Various LGUs have also been allowed to purchase vaccines but the jabs are yet to arrive.
As to allegations that some were jumping the “vaccination line” to be vaccinated ahead, Te said the health department has no control over it. It is the LGUs who are conducting the vaccination, she noted.
“Indi na ‘na kami ka-control kay number one ang ginahatag sa amon nga master list, amo lang ‘na ‘ya ang gina-allocate namon,” said Te.
He added that the issue on “sal-otanay” must be addressed by the Department of Interior and Local Government.
Mayor Jerry Treñas, on his part, said, “Wala ‘na sal–ot. May mga wala gapa-vaccine, (so) mga substitute ina.”
He added that the city is done vaccinating its A1 sector (health frontliners) and currently on the A2 (elderly) and A3 (persons with comorbidities) priority groups. It will gradually proceed on A4 sector (essential workers) next week./PN
