DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio warned the public against individuals selling vaccines.
"Dili po. Bawal po na siya sa national government. Kapila na sila nag-warning na wala poy bayad ang mga vaccine (No. It is prohibited by the national government. They had been issuing warnings that the [Covid-19] vaccine is free),” Duterte-Carpio said in an interview on Monday, July 26, 2021 on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.
This is in response to circulating text messages asking for payment for the vaccines.
The mayor also received a report that a certain brand of a vaccine is being sold for P500 for two doses.
The mayor said she had not personally received these reports, but she encouraged those with information to forward them to her so she could raise these concerns to the Department of Health (DOH).
As of present, only the national government has the authority to purchase Covid-19 vaccines directly from drug manufacturers, as these are given emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire had also reminded the public that the vaccines against Covid-19) are free and may be accessed only through government or private sector vaccination sites.
This after three people involved in the illegal sale of vaccines were reported to have been arrested in Quezon City early June this year.
Duterte-Carpio, in late June this year, also warned Dabawenyos against individuals offering vaccination slots and asking for payments in return.
"Warning sa tanang kaigsuonang Dabawenyo na kung naay panghitabo na moduol sa inyuha na mangayo og kwarta para matagaan mo ug bakuna o matagaan mo slot sa bakuna or ma-prioritize mo sa pila sa bakuna, dili na siya tinuod," she said.
(I am warning my fellow Dabawenyos that when someone approaches you, asking money for them to get the vaccine or a slot for them to be prioritized in the vaccination, that is not true.)
The mayor said they received a complaint from an employee of an undisclosed company who was about to get vaccinated at Magallanes Elementary School last week.
According to the complainant, they were charged P350 per individual by personnel from Magallanes ES since they went to the site despite having no schedule for vaccination.
The fee was allegedly used for a medical certificate for them to be accommodated.
The complainant said the company gave them money to cover the fee but it will be deducted from their salary.
Duterte-Carpio said the city does not charge any amount to those who will get their vaccination.
The mayor also warned of groups roaming from house to house to collect money for vaccination.
She urged Dabawenyos to report any incidents relating to this to the nearest police station for immediate action.
Individuals who want to get the Covid-19 vaccine must register and wait for their schedule. (With reports from SunStar Philippines)