Fake Covishield vaccines reported in India and Uganda; WHO issues alert
The World Health Organization has issued a medical alert on ‘falsified’ Covishield vaccines in India and Uganda. It has suggested increased vigilance in hospitals, clinics, distributors, pharmacies, and other suppliers of medical products. Details here.
In India, Covishield 2ml was identified as ‘falsified’. The Serum Institute has confirmed that it does not produce Covishield in 2ml (4 doses). All photos: WHO
Fake vials of Covishield vaccine are in circulation in India and the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a medical alert on it. It has also found fake vaccines in Uganda in Africa. This has raised serious concerns over the COVID19 vaccination drive in the country as almost 87 per cent of vaccine doses administered in India are Covishield, which is developed by Oxford-AstraZeneca and manufactured by Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII).
“Falsified COVID-19 vaccines pose a serious risk to global public health and place an additional burden on vulnerable populations and health systems,” warned the public health body in its statement issued two days back on August 16. It stated that it was important to detect and remove these falsified products from circulation to prevent harm to patients.
According to the WHO, “The genuine manufacturer of COVISHIELD (Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd.) has confirmed that the products listed in this alert are falsified. These falsified products have been reported at the patient level in Uganda and India.”
The products identified in the WHO alert are confirmed as ‘falsified’ on the basis that they deliberately or fraudulently misrepresent their identity, composition, or source.
The falsified products were reported to WHO in July and August 2021. In India, Covishield 2ml was identified as ‘falsified’. The Serum Institute has confirmed that it does not produce Covishield in 2ml (4 doses).
In Uganda, Covishield with Batch 4121Z040 and the expiry date (10.08.2021) was identified as ‘falsified’, which the genuine manufacturer confirmed was fake.
“If you are in possession of the above products, please do not use them,” warned the WHO.
The health body urged the people that if they have used these products, or suffered an adverse reaction or event having used these products, they are advised to seek immediate medical advice from a qualified healthcare professional and to report the incident to the National Regulatory Authorities or National Pharmacovigilance Centre.
The WHO has urged increased vigilance within the supply chains of countries and regions likely to be affected by these falsified products. “Increased vigilance should include hospitals, clinics, health centers, wholesalers, distributors, pharmacies, and any other suppliers of medical products. All medical products must be obtained from authorized or licensed suppliers,” it stated.
The ‘genuine’ Covishield vaccine is indicated for active immunisation of individuals 18 years or older for the prevention of coronavirus disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
So far, India has administered 560 million vaccine doses. Nearly three months back on May 28, the then former Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar announced that the country will vaccinate its entire population by this year-end.
Also Read: India will vaccinate all by this December-end: Union Minister Prakash Javadekar
Meanwhile, the Serum Institute aims at increasing the monthly vaccine production capacity of Covishield from the current average monthly capacity of production of 110 million to more than 120 million doses per month.