THE proposal of Cebu City Councilor Alvin Dizon to penalize the sale of vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has been referred to the law committee for review.
The proposed ordinance called “The Anti-Sale of Covid-19 Vaccines Ordinance in the City of Cebu” also penalizes the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines and prohibits the sale of vaccination slots by any person, institution, corporation, group, or organization for gain, income, or profit.
The measure stipulates a fine of P5,000 and imprisonment not exceeding six months for violators.
If the violation is committed by a public official or a city government employee, he or she will be dismissed and permanently disqualified from holding any public office or position on top of the abovementioned penalties.
If the violator is committed by a corporation or other juridical entity, the directors, officers, employees or other officers shall be charged or penalized and the business permit may be revoked, or they may be banned from doing business in the city.
Should this proposed ordinance get a nod from council members, it will take effect 15 days after its publication in a newspaper of local circulation.
Dizon said that with the limited supply of vaccines, some may take advantage of the situation.
Dizon said only seven Covid-19 vaccine brands have been issued with the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yet. These are Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, Coronavac, Janssen, Covaxin, and Moderna .
“At present, the sale or purchase of vaccines from private persons or entities are prohibited under the law until a full market authorization is issued by the FDA,” said Dizon.
As of Wednesday, June 2, 2021, more than 47,600 individuals have been injected with the first dose in Cebu City, while a total of 11,447 have completed their vaccination or have received the second dose.
To date, more than 150,000 have registered for the City’s vaccination program through pabakunata.com. (JJL)