Maria Rosario Vergeire (Source: RTVM)
The Department of Health issued a warning to the public against the Fabunan Antiviral vaccine alleged to cure the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and approved by President Rodrigo Duterte, has not received any certification from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the FDA has already issued a cease and desist order against the Fabunan Medical Clinic to stop administering the Fabunan antiviral injections since the drug does not have a product registration from the FDA.
Dr. Ruben Fabunan, a Filipino physician now based in the USA, developed the anti-viral drug together with his three brothers, who are all doctors as well. They have a family clinic in San Marcelino, Zambales where the controversial drug injection is available to their patients.
Social media posts claim that the Fabunan vaccine is allegedly successful in fighting COVID-19 when it was administered to some patients in Zambales. There have also been social media groups created for those who support the mass administration of the drug to fight COVID-19
Vergiere reminded the public that any drug that has not received any FDA registration must not be used by the public. She added that that anyone caught using and administering any unregistered medicine like the Fabunan vaccine may face charges.
In a separate statement, Vergeire said the DOH is open to endorse treatments against COVID-19 for as long as the drug has gone “through rigorous studies.”
“We encourage local scientists who may have developed treatments to apply with the FDA. We do this for the protection of the public, as many unregistered products have proliferated globally which might hurt people and even cause death,” Vergeire said. (Rommel F. Lopez)