00:00 Those who are enticed to buy bivalent vaccines online can never really be sure if the product
00:04 they are purchasing are fake or not. A likely scenario that the FDA wants to help prevent,
00:10 thus it issued a stern warning that they hope consumers will heed.
00:14 Noel Talacay has more of the details.
00:17 This is the appeal of the Food and Drug Administration to the public as its proactive
00:36 initiative against the possible selling of bivalent COVID-19 vaccines using online platforms.
00:42 This plea was made this morning during the weekly press conference of the Philippine
00:47 Information Agency with the FDA as guest agency. FDA Director General Samuel Zacate
00:54 warned that bivalent vaccine sold online might be fake or not FDA approved.
01:00 He stressed that the public should not be easily swayed into buying
01:27 the said vaccine from elsewhere. The FDA cannot tell yet when the bivalent vaccine
01:41 will be available in the country but there are companies that have expressed their intention
01:47 to import the said vaccine. There are also companies that have already applied for
01:51 certificate of product registration, one company for a monovalent vaccine and another one for
01:58 bivalent. The agency also cited requirements set in using the vaccine like it should only be given
02:05 to individuals aged 12 years old and above. Before taking the bivalent, the patient should
02:11 have been inoculated with two doses of monovalent vaccines. Number one limitation, because of the
02:19 storage requirements, the bivalent vaccine needs a special storage facility.
02:28 Second limitation, the vaccine must be prescribed on the spot. Third limitation, it must be
02:36 prescribed by a doctor. Fourth, the patient must have consent. Fifth, the person who should be
02:44 vaccinated is a legitimate healthcare professional. The FDA assured that having bivalent vaccine in
02:52 the country will not affect the COVID-19 vaccination program of the Department of Health.
02:57 Once available in the local pharmacies, the bivalent vaccine will just be an added option
03:03 of COVID-19 brands for Filipinos to pharm for their inoculation. COVID-19 vaccines from DOH
03:10 is still free while the bivalent vaccine is not. However, the pricing is yet to be sent.
03:17 Noel Talacay for the nation.
