The Fabunan medical clinic in Zambales was ordered to stop administering its well-known vaccine to the people after the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a cease and desist order against them.
In a text message, the Department of Health (DOH) said that the FDA has the right to stop Fabunan antiviral injection because it’s still not registered to the agency.
“They still have not applied for CPR (Certificate of Product Registration). They were already issued a cease and desist order by FDA, case build-up is being done already,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.
“FDA has jurisdiction when it comes to the unregistered drug/vaccine, and Professional Regulation Commission for the practice of medicine,” she added.
FDA made the said action against Fabunan after it was reported that some people are personally traveling to their clinic in Zambales to get vaccinated.
Several supporters and Facebook page claimed that Fabunan antiviral injection could protect anyone from getting infected by COVID-19.
They also posted some photos showing the owner of the said clinic, Dr. Willie Fabunan injecting vaccines despite the warnings from the FDA and DOH.
“MARAMI NANG NAGPATUROK SA FABUNAN DOCTORS AT LIGTAS NA SA VIRUS SA ZAMBALES,” One Facebook page created to support Fabunan vaccine wrote.
“Isipin niyo to! Kung ang FDA at DOH ay matutulungan ang mga doctors para labanan ang COVID malamang hindi lang taga Zambales ang magiging ligtas sa Pandemya,” they added.
According to FDA Advisory No. 2018-163, “the manufacture, importation, exportation, sale offering for sale, distribution, transfer, non-consumer use, promotion, advertising or sponsorship of any health product that is adulterated, unregistered or misbranded are prohibited,”
While supporters of Fabunan strongly believed that Fabunan’s injection could save the world from the COVID-19 pandemic, health officials warned people not to try any unregistered vaccines.
“Itong Fabunan ang sinasabi na bakuna ito, hindi gamot, na sinasaksak sa pasyente, so amin pong pinapaalalahanan na mag-apply na lang sa FDA para maintindihan na nga natin yung sinasabi,” DOH said.
It was reported that Fabunan medical clinic was charging 3,000 pesos for the vaccine.