"It’s just like getting a ventosa during a massage. The service is also not registered with the FDA."
Three months ago, Reno liver spread was declared prohibited by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It was discovered that the popular product which had been around years before I was born had remained unregistered.
But even before it was taken off the store shelves, the iconic canned good’s continued sale was approved by the FDA as soon as Reno’s manufacturers secured a certificate of product registration.
It’s as simple as that and there’s not much fuss.
Similarly, it is just a matter of time until the newly-developed COVID-19 vaccines get approved and administered to the general public.
Unfortunately, politicking has muddled up the issue of Presidential Security Group (PSG) troops reportedly having received COVID-19 vaccination, courtesy of a Chinese businessman back in September.
This is not to say that we condone the violation of laws, rules and regulations on food and drugs. If it is the case, I say let the chips fall where they may.
Senator Franklin Drilon pressed for a Senate investigation in aid of legislation which kind of makes sense as FDA Director General Eric Domingo himself points out that there are no laws violated for which the PSG men may be held accountable for.
Drilon should not make a mistake of likening this issue with Dengvaxia where Noynoy Aquino and company were believed to have plundered P3.5 billion in public funds for an untested dengue vaccine. This has been linked to 622 children’s deaths.
Only those who import, sell and administer unregistered vaccines can be held liable under RA 9711, the FDA Act of 2009.
Anyway, PSG Commander PA/Colonel Jesus Durante III vowed he is prepared to face a congressional inquiry into his troops vaccinations which he said was done “in good faith.”
We are not talking about the use of addictive drugs by PSG men but anti-COVID shots to keep them fit to protect President Duterte.
They are the frontliners who will take a bullet for the Commander-in-Chief.
If they had the vaccine injections in September and all went well until now, I would have preferred the President to have received it, too, with his bodyguards.
For all we know, he may have had it, too, and I don’t see anything wrong with that.
Penalizing the PSG for self-inoculation is just like punishing a person for getting a ventosa cupping massage to treat body pain by a manghihilot just because such service is not registered with the FDA.
Much ado about nothing.
Hopefully, the government would be able to strike a deal with pharmaceuticals abroad to secure and ensure vaccine supply for 100-plus million Filipinos.
We are literally playing catch-up with at least 50 countries that have started mass vaccinations.
I would wish this is what Health Secretary Francisco Duque and company had focused on instead of spending too much time on photo opportunities inspecting social distancing in tiangges and emergency rooms’ readiness for firecracker injuries.