Galvez: ‘Vaccine hoppers’ getting booster shots ‘immoral’, as many still without COVID jab

Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News

MANILA—Filipinos signing up in different cities to get a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine, labeled as “vaccine hoppers”, have been criticized as being “immoral” by vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/13/21/doh-blasts-booster-covid-19-vaccinations ">READ: &#x27;Boostered&#x27;? DOH blasts double COVID-19 vaccination of those fully immunized</a></li></ul>“Vaccine hopping is illegal,” Galvez said in a statement Saturday.“Lahat ng bakuna ay itinuturing nating ginto at hindi ito basta-bastang sinasayang dahil ang gusto natin ay lahat ng Pilipino ay mabakunahan(COVID-19 vaccines are considered gold. This should not be wasted because we want all Filipinos to be immunized.)The official, also the chief implementer of the National Task Force against COVID-19, said the government would go after offenders. &quot;Napakahirap na ’yung mga kababayan nating nasa far-flung areas at mga nasa [geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas] ay hindi pa nagkakakroon ng first dose tapos sila (vaccine hoppers) may third dose or boosters na,&quot; said Galvez.(Some Filipinos in far-flung areas have yet to receive their first doses, while these vaccine hoppers already have a third dose or booster.)&quot;Unahin muna natin ’yung mga areas at mga tao na wala pang first dose.&quot;(Let us prioritize giving a first dose to everyone.)On Thursday, ABS-CBN News reported on an alleged double vaccination scheme posted by a man on social media after he was supposedly fully vaccinated by Sinovac in Mandaluyong last May then got another shot of Moderna earlier this week in Quezon City. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/12/21/sinovac-in-mandaluyong-moderna-in-qc-authorities-probe-double-vaccination-scheme">READ: Sinovac in Mandaluyong, Moderna in QC: Authorities probe double vaccination scheme</a></li></ul>He said he got &quot;boostered&quot; and thanked the people who helped him.The Quezon City government on Friday said it has started <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/13/21/quezon-city-to-file-charges-vs-2-individuals-for-getting-unauthorized-booster-shots">filing charges</a> against 2 individuals who reportedly received booster shots. Earlier in the day, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said booster shots remained prohibited in the country due to limited COVID-19 supplies and the lack of safety validity for now. In July, San Juan City Rep. Ronaldo Zamora acknowledged he was vaccinated against COVID-19 four times and two of the jabs he used were “bootleg”Earlier this week, Health Sec. Francisco Duque III said he understood that Zamora was advised to take a booster shot because of “serious comorbidities.”“We respect the decision of his physician,” Duque said.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/12/21/ronaldo-zamora-vaccinated-4-times-booster-shot-covid19">Philippine lawmaker says he received 4 shots of COVID-19 vaccine</a></li></ul>Zamora received 2 doses of the vaccine developed by Chinese state firm Sinopharm in December last year, months before the Philippines started its vaccination program in March. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/09/21/duque-booster-covid-19-shots-against-policy">Booster shots for COVID-19 vaccines &#x27;against policy&#x27;, says PH health chief</a></li></ul>Because he was described as “immunodeficient,” the doctors told him he should get 2 booster shots from Pfizer-BioNTech, Zamora said.On Friday, Metro Manila mayors approved a unified certificate for fully vaccinated individuals.Information and Communications Technology Secretary Gregorio &quot;Gringo&quot; Honasan II said his office, together with the Department of Health, was working on the “VaxCertPH,” which would be issued to fully vaccinated people.<div>RELATED VIDEO</div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1747348" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

Vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr., the chief implementer of the National Task Force against COVID, said the government would go after offenders.

Galvez: ‘Vaccine hoppers’ getting booster shots ‘immoral’, as many still without COVID jab | ABS-CBN

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Galvez: ‘Vaccine hoppers’ getting booster shots ‘immoral’, as many still without COVID jab

Galvez: ‘Vaccine hoppers’ getting booster shots ‘immoral’, as many still without COVID jab

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 14, 2021 08:20 PM PHT

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