OPS: they warn that fake vaccines circulate in Argentina

WASHINGTON.- The Deputy Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Jarbas Barbosa, today warned of the existence of supply of fake coronavirus vaccines in Argentina, a fact that he considered a “problem” for the authorities who will have to “identify this criminal activity”.

He also assured that this type of illegal activity occurs in Mexico and in Brazil.

“We have received reports from Mexico, Argentina and Brazil that some doses have been offered through social media“He said today at the organization’s weekly press conference, when asked about a report from the newspaper The Wall Street Journal in which he reports the sale of fraudulent Pfizer vaccines.

“Illegal markets offer vaccines that are probably counterfeit, they are not the real vaccines, or maybe they are stolen from a health center and no one can guarantee that they are stored correctly,” continued Barbosa.

The official stressed the importance of rely on vaccines administered by health authorities, the only ones guaranteed “safe and effective”. “Therefore, it is very important to refuse to buy any type of vaccine offered through social networks and the Internet,” he said.

Barbosa pointed out that the sale of fake vaccines is “a health risk”, besides being “a problem, not only for the health authorities, but also for the police”.

Wrong dose

The Wall Street Journal reported this morning that Pfizer has identified the first cases of counterfeit versions of its vaccine in Mexico and Poland against the coronavirus developed with BioNTech.

According to the newspaper, approximately 80 people received a false dose in a clinic in Mexico, with lot numbers different from those shipped to State and incorrect expiration date. In addition, the inoculated patients, who did not appear to have suffered any physical damage, had to pay $ 1,000 to purchase the drug.

At Poland, the vials recovered did not contain the dose to combat the coronavirus, but rather the substance was a anti-wrinkle treatment as confirmed by Pfizer. The Polish authorities were able to seize them in time and they were not administered to any patient.

The report also looks at the work that the United States, Mexico and other countries have done in delete websites They claimed to sell the injections or to have some sort of affiliation with vaccine companies like Moderna and Pfizer.

The problem has been exacerbated by the shortage of vaccines in several countries, which an opportunity for criminals to influence the market and meet demand.

“Whenever you see this mismatch between demand and supply in certain areas, there are people who are willing to cover that difference with fakes,” he said. Tony Pelli, BSI Group consultant, who works in security, at the Wall Street Journal. “In the case of newer drugs, it’s usually only a matter of time before you see people trying to counterfeit them.”

This type of fraudulent activity has been around since the start of the pandemic. According to the article, the National Center for Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), a branch of the United States Department of Homeland Security, has investigated fraud around the world in the illegal sale of fake masks, personal protective equipment and other products.

Agencia AFP

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