DOH: Makati spa claiming staff are mpox vaccinated to be probed

The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday said a spa in Makati City will be investigated after it claimed that its therapists are vaccinated against mpox. 

At a press conference, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa emphasized that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet approved any vaccines against the monkeypox virus in the Philippines. 

“Wala pang inaprubahan ang FDA na bakuna ng mpox sa Pilipinas. So hindi ko alam kung ile-label ko na silang fake news or baka naman totoo, eh contraband ‘yung bakuna na ipinasok nila,” Herbosa said. 

(There are no FDA-approved mpox vaccines yet in the Philippines. So I don't know if I should label the establishment as fake news or maybe the vaccines they acquired were contraband.) 

“Kasi ang usapan sa World Health Organization, lahat ng bakuna pupunta muna sa Democratic Republic of Congo. Kung meron silang nakuhang bakuna, hindi po rehistrado sa aming Food and Drug Administration,” he added. 

(According to the World Health Organization, all vaccines will first go to the Democratic Republic of Congo. If an establishment has received a vaccine, it is not registered with our Food and Drug Administration.) 

DOH spokesperson Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said that the matter has been referred to the FDA for investigation. 

In a social media post, The Cave Mnl featured photos of its staff wearing gloves, with a hand on the chest. On the upper right corner of the art card, the words “mpox vaccinated” were indicated. 

“Your safety is our utmost priority, and we continually find new ways to make every moment possible. Now, indulge in a truly relaxing, worry-free experience with us! #TheCaveSpaMnl #MpoxVaccinated,” the caption read. 

GMA News Online reached out to The Cave Mnl and will update this story once it responds. 

Herbosa said that all vaccines, whether they are acquired by the public or private sector, must be registered with the FDA. If they do not undergo FDA approval, he said they are considered contraband or smuggled. 

“Kahit totoong bakuna ‘yan, smuggled ‘yan. At kung ‘yan ay smuggled at contraband, ‘yan ay iligal,” he stressed. 

(Even if it's a real vaccine, it's smuggled. And if that is smuggled and contraband, that is illegal.) 

According to the Health Secretary, the Philippines is set to receive 2,500 doses of mpox vaccines, but none of these have arrived in the country yet. 

The DOH on Friday also warned against “imported” mpox vaccines allegedly being sold in the country.

The DOH said mpox vaccine shots required storage and handling conditions. Without the proper safeguards, there was no way to assure safety and efficacy.—LDF, GMA Integrated News