Interior chief Año cautions public against fake Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine shots

By Prince Golez

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has warned the local government units (LGUs) against the possible presence of counterfeit versions of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine which are making their way into the global market.

The World Health Organization earlier issued an alert for “falsified” Pfizer vaccines found in Mexico with the product name “BNT162b2.” The fake product contains the lot number “783201” and has an expiry date of August 24.

“While there is no information yet on the presence of the fake vaccines in the country, LGUs should exercise increased diligence as these fake vaccines may be dangerous to the health of those who get inoculated,” DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said in an advisory.

Año also directed the Philippine National Police to investigate and confiscate fake Covid-19 vaccines if they entered the country.

“Inatasan ko na ang PNP na tutukan ang isyu tungkol sa pekeng bakuna para walang mapahamak sa paggamit nito,” he added.

The secretary likewise urged the public to report any information on the presence or use of BNT162b2 in the country to the National Task Force Vaccine Cluster through the email address c19vaccineopcen@gmail.com or mobile number 09178237310.

Earlier, National Task Force Against Covid-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. said the Philippines will receive 2.35 million Pfizer vaccines through COVAX facility “not later than June.”

The lack of an indemnification law has delayed the delivery of 117,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which were supposed to arrive in the country last February.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)