Camille Naredo

A worker packages rabies vaccine at a lab at the Yisheng Biopharma company, where researchers are trying to develop a vaccine for the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Shenyang, in China's northeast Liaoning province, on June 9, 2020.

A worker packages rabies vaccine at a lab at the Yisheng Biopharma company, where researchers are trying to develop a vaccine for the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Shenyang, in China's northeast Liaoning province, on June 9, 2020. China has mobilised its army and fast-tracked tests in the global race to find a coronavirus vaccine, and is involved in several of the dozen or so international clinical trials currently under way. Noel Celis, AFP

Article (news)

rabies vaccine

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday flagged the circulation of unregistered and possibly fake anti-rabies vaccines in the Philippine market, citing statements from a group authorities had earlier arrested.The suspects claimed that they were selling legitimate vaccines, but authorities caught them relabeling the jabs, FDA spokesperson Khay Magundayao told state television PTV.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2026/3/14/sintomas-ng-rabies-gaano-katagal-bago-lumabas-1050">Sintomas ng rabies, gaano katagal bago lumabas?</a></div>“Nakita natin na sila ay nagri-repack, sila ay nagri-relabel, meaning binabago po nila iyong mga label, iyong mga stickers nito so kahit po sabihin po natin na ito ay galing sa lehitimong distributor sa ibang bansa, nako-compromise po ang goods storage or good chain management nito sapagkat wala tayong nakitang bio-refrigerator doon po sa kanilang pasilidad at wala din po silang license to operate mula sa FDA para mag-distribute po ng mga nasabing bakuna,” she said.“Napakadelikado po kasi alam naman natin na kapag hindi po epektibo ang mga bakunang in-inject for anti-rabies gaya po ng mga ito, maaari rin po itong magdulot ng death,” she said.“Siyempre po kung sabihin na natin na malakas ang immune system, puwede rin magkaroon ng allergic reactions so ito po ay napakadelikado kung kaya’t sinasabi po natin sa publiko na maging mapagmatyag at siyempre pumunta lamang sa mga DOH-certified na mga treatment centers at mga health facilities.”Magundayao explained that the proper storage of vaccines in medical-grade bio-refrigerators is crucial to maintain the efficacy of vaccines.“Ito ay mayroong certain temperature na constant – ibig sabihin po hindi siya bababa or hindi siya tataas at ito din po ay mayroong proper monitoring,” she said.“Ang mga bio-ref ay sumusunod lamang doon sa 2 to 8 degrees Celsius, kaya po hindi ina-advise na ito ay nakalagay sa household refrigerator kung saan mayroong mga kasamang pagkain, may mga kasamang beverages, mga sweetened beverages po or mga tubig na maya’t maya po nating binubuksan.”<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/3/3/fda-warns-of-fake-products-sold-online-1743">READ: FDA warns of fake products sold online</a></div>The FDA is looking into suggestions that a syndicate might be behind the repacking and relabeling of anti-rabies vaccines, the agency’s spokesperson said.“Dito po sa nakita natin, ito po kasi ay pinupuslit nila kasama ng mga ibang produkto ‘no so talaga naman pong mahirap kasi iyong mga sindikatong ganito ay maituturing natin na nagtatago talaga sila sa pamamagitan ng mga ibang produkto na maaaring lisensiyado din naman po at nakakakuha ng mga certain permits po mula sa iba’t ibang ahensiya hindi lamang po ang FDA,” she said.“Tayo po ay makikipag-ugnayan sa iba’t ibang ahensiya para po sugpuin natin ang mga ganitong iligal na aktibidad,” she said.In recent years, the Philippines has seen an increase in rabies cases during summer, with some experts pointing to more irritable animals during hot months, and more frequent exposure of children to rabies carriers while they are on a break from school.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday flagged the circulation of unregistered and possibly fake anti-rabies vaccines in the Philippine market, citing statements from a group authorities had earlier arrested.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday flagged the circulation of unregistered and possibly fake anti-rabies vaccines in the Philippine market, citing statements from a group authorities had earlier arrested.

FDA flags tampered anti-rabies vaccines in PH market

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FDA flags tampered anti-rabies vaccines in PH market

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 31, 2026 04:45 PM PHT

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Food and Drug Administration

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