Watsons Philippines heeds FDA order to stop in-store vaccination

Watsons Personal Care Stores (Philippines) Inc. will abide by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) order to stop advertising, promoting and conducting immunization activities in its drugstore chain.

"Watsons shall abide by the FDA advisory," Watsons said in a statement on Friday.

The drugstore chain is now coordinating with the FDA on how to meet the requirements for offering vaccination service.

Early Friday, the FDA ordered Watsons Philippines and pharmaceutical company Sanofi Pasteur Inc. (SPI) to stop conducting immunization activities without an FDA authority.

"As such, there is no assurance on the safety and quality of the service rendered in these drugstores and thus poses a potential health hazard to the consuming public," FDA Director General Nela Charade Puno said.

Watsons has collaborated with SPI to make the dengue vaccine Dengvaxia available in select stores.

"Doctors were to be on hand to conduct proper pre-screening and administer the vaccine to qualified individuals," Watsons said.

"Prior to the start of the vaccination service, a new advisory was issued out by FDA requiring appropriate authorization to conduct such," it added.

Manufactured by SPI, Dengvaxia was approved by the FDA.

Watsons Philippines is a joint venture between Sy-led SM Group and Hong Kong's A.S. Watson & Co. Ltd. — VDS, GMA News