Fake Covishield Vaccines Traced in India: WHO

NEW DELHI: The World Health Organisation (WHO) said fake Covishield vaccines were in circulation in India and Uganda and asked governments of both countries to urgently notify the discovery of false batches to the world body.

The WHO asked people who may have used fake doses to report adverse events, if any, to the national drug regulators and pharmacovigilance bodies, and other countries to enhance vigilance in their Covid vaccine supply chains.

Issuing a medical product alert on falsified Covishield vaccines identified in its African and South-East Asia Regions, the WHO today said, "The falsified products were reported in July and August 2021. The genuine manufacturer of Covishield (Serum Institute of India) 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 WHO said only genuine Covishield vaccine was indicated for active immunization of individuals 18 years or older for the prevention of Covid-19 disease. "Falsified Covid-19 vaccines pose a serious risk to global public health and place an additional burden on vulnerable populations and health systems," it said, calling for urgent detection and removal of falsified product batches in India and Uganda to prevent harm to patients.

The world body also asked nations and regions likely to be affected by the falsified Covishield product mentioned in its alert to enhance vigilance within supply chains.