By Sydney Antoinette Alipao
 |
| PHOTO: Inquirer.net |
Persons who will get vaccinated with unregistered
Coronavirus Disease 2019 jabs will not face charges unless they promote the use
and purchase it, said Department of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.
“Under our existing laws, a person who freely and
voluntarily gets himself inoculated with an unregistered or unauthorized drug
or vaccine does not incur any criminal liability, unless he himself has caused
its unlawful procurement or promotes its use by other people," Guevarra
exclaimed.
This was a response to Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela
Rosa's statement about his willingness to get enoculated with COVID-19 vaccine
not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Recently, Dela Rosa said that he also wants to get
enoculated similarly to the Presidential Security Group (PSG) who admitted
being injected with non-FDA approved vaccine, quoting that he is responsible in his own life.
"FDA-approved o hindi, buhay ko ito, wala akong
pakialam diyan sa FDA kung i-approve nila o hindi yan basta buhay ko
nakasalalay, I have to decide for my own life," said Dela Rosa.
Guevarra, however, emphasized the importance of FDA's
approval on the use and administration to be "strictly observed for the
benefit of everyone."
“Section 11 of the FDA law prohibits the manufacture,
importation, sale, offering for sale, distribution, transfer, promotion, etc of
any health product that is unregistered with the FDA, and Section 12 thereof
imposes the penalty of fine and/or imprisonment,” the Justice Secretary noted.
Furthermore, Guevarra said individuals who willingly and
knowingly administer an unregistered vaccines will be liable under the Medical
Practice Act of 1959.
RELATED ARTICLE: GMA News