DOH exec alarmed over peddled fake vaccines

The seizure of P4 million worth of fake flu vaccines and the arrest of a trader selling them last weekend may just be the tip of the iceberg. A health official on Thursday cited reports that some groups are going around small offices to peddle supposedly approved flu vaccines at "attractive" prices. "May natatanggap kaming mga report na may mga gumagawa nito at pumupunta sa mga opisina. May dala-dalang sulat na aprubado ang mga bakunang dala nila. Nagbibigay pa ng magandang presyo. Syempre, gusto ng mga employer na di magkasakit ang mga tao nila para walang mag-absent sa trabaho, e magpapabakuna na sila," National Epidemiology Center head Dr. Eric Tayag said in an interview on dwIZ radio. (We have received reports that those making the fake vaccines go around offices and offer the vaccines at attractive prices. Of course, the employer would tend to agree because he wants his workers to be protected so they will not be absent from work.) However, Tayag did not give further details of such reports reaching his office. When asked if there is already anti-swine flu vaccine in the market, Tayag reiterated that there is no commercially available A(H1N1) vaccine yet, although the government has placed orders for it from the World Health Organization. On the other hand, Tayag said it would be late for people to get their vaccination against the seasonal flu at this time. "Katunayan kung kayo magpapabakuna late na yan. Dapat ang panahon ng pagbabakuna bago pa mag-Hunyo kasi ngayon kasagsagan na ng tag-ulan (If you want to get your anti-flu shots now, it is rather late. You should have gotten it before June – before the start of the rainy season. Now we’re already in the middle of the rainy season)," he said. Meanwhile, health authorities warned drugstores to demand sales invoices and receipts for flu vaccines. The Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD), in a public health advisory, said drugstores should report the refusal of the sources to give such receipts, which it said may be a sign the vaccine they are selling is fake. "In view of these reports, the BFAD strongly warns all drugstore owners and/or their pharmacists to exercise extra diligence in buying this vaccine and any other drugs and medicines. They should buy only from sources duly licensed by BFAD and to always demand sales invoices or receipts from their sources indicating therein the name of the drugs and medicines purchased and their respective lot numbers and expiry dates," it said in its health advisory signed by acting BFAD Director Nazarita Tacandong. "Refusal of the source to issue and/or indicate the aforementioned information should give rise to suspicion and must be reported immediately to BFAD," Tacandong added. The advisory was dated July 28, and was published in Metro Manila newspapers Thursday. On the other hand, Tacandong said: "All consumers are advised to purchase this vaccine and other drugs and medicines only at outlets duly licensed by BFAD and to demand receipts as well." Last weekend, the National Bureau of Investigation arrested a businesswoman selling fake “Vaxigrip" flu vaccines in a sting operation, and seized P4 million worth of fake vaccines. The BFAD said fake vaccines can be reported to it through its hotline at 8094390 local 1131. “Perpetrators shall be criminally prosecuted and sanctioned under the law prescribing the highest penalty," the BFAD said. - GMANews.TV