By Ma. Teresa Montemayor
MANILA – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday warned the public against a large-scale syndicate distributing counterfeit and compromised anti-rabies vaccines following a major enforcement operation in Taguig City.
FDA spokesperson Khay Ann Magundayao-Borlado said while the apprehended suspects claimed their products were legitimate, investigators discovered an illegal repacking and relabeling facility.
“Nakita natin na sila ay nagre-repack, sila ay nagre-relabel, meaning binabago po nila yung mga label, yung mga stickers nito (We observed they engaged in repacking and relabeling activities, where original product labels and stickers were being systematically altered),” Magundayao-Borlado said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview.
The FDA noted that even if the vaccines originated from legitimate sources abroad, their potency was severely compromised due to lack of proper cold chain management.
The facility lacked medical-grade “biorefrigerators” necessary to maintain a constant temperature of 2°C to 8°C.
“Napaka-delikado po kasi alam naman natin na kapag hindi po epektibo ang mga bakunang in-inject for anti-rabies, maaari din po itong magdulot ng death (It is extremely dangerous because we know that if the anti-rabies vaccines injected are not effective, it can also lead to death),” she said.
“Kung sabihin na natin na malakas ang immune system, pwede din magkaroon ng mga allergic reactions (Even if we say that the immune system is strong, allergic reactions can still occur).”
Magundayao-Borlado described the Taguig raid as a “big catch,” targeting a significant syndicate that smuggled the vaccines by hiding them among licensed products to evade detection.
The suspects are facing criminal charges for violating Republic Act (RA) 8203 (Special Law on Counterfeit Drugs) and RA 9711 (Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009).
The FDA is currently conducting follow-up operations and product tracing using seized generic distribution lists to identify individuals who may have already been inoculated with the compromised vaccines.
Public safety reminders
To ensure the legitimacy of anti-rabies shots, the FDA advised the public and health facilities to:
• Verify via portal: Check the product’s registration and batch number through verification.fda.gov.ph;
• Seek certified centers: Only visit Department of Health-certified treatment centers and facilities with a valid License to Operate (LTO) from the FDA;
• Inspect storage: Ensure the facility uses medical-grade biorefrigerators rather than household units, which are prone to temperature fluctuations; and
• Beware of cheap prices: Exercise caution if the vaccine is offered at an unusually low price.
Magundayao-Borlado urged those who have recently received anti-rabies vaccinations to monitor for adverse effects, such as rashes or unusual allergic reactions, and to report them immediately to the nearest health facility.
“Tayo po ay nag-aabiso sa publiko, maging mapagmatyag. Alamin po natin kung ito ay naka-flag sa ating mga public advisories (We are advising the public to remain vigilant. Let us check if these [products or entities] have been flagged in our public advisories),” she said. (PNA)
