Fake COVID-19 vaccinations in Africa

• Published in: Postgraduate medical journal Vol. 98; no. 1159; pp. 317 - 318
• Main Authors: Aborode, Abdullahi Tunde, Awuah, Wireko Andrew, Talukder, Suprateeka, Oyeyemi, Ajagbe Abayomi, Nansubuga, Esther Patience, Machai, Paciencia, Tillewein, Heather, Oko, Christian Inya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England The Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine 01-05-2022; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Community; Coronaviruses; Counterfeiting; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID-19 Vaccines; Deception; Editorial; Humans; Internet; Pandemics; Pharmaceutical industry; SARS-CoV-2; Suppliers; Supply chains; Vaccination; South Africa; Burundi; Nigeria; Africa; India; COVID-19
• ISSN: 0032-5473; 1469-0756
• DOI: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2021-141160

[...]the main concern is particularly severe on the African continent, which sees itself as being the world’s largest market for fake medications and is intensely dallying to the high-income countries in vaccinations.3 WHO disclosed that it had recognised the sham brand of India’s primary COVID-19 vaccine, Covishield.4 Between July and August, the authorities in India and Africa have removed the doses from the market.4 The manufacturer of the vaccines has authenticated the counterfeit nature of the amounts.5 The fake COVID-19 vaccination poses a great danger to the continent of Africa. Africa is lagging in its inoculation effort and already has a low rate of vaccination juxtaposed with the rest of the world—less than 2% of the continent is completely vaccinated according to a report by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.1 Africa’s latest tolls from the start of the pandemic to 6 September 2021 is 5 669 913 total cases and 137 488 deaths due to COVID-19.6 It also constitutes a great peril to global public health and places an extra burden on vulnerable populations and health systems.7 Resources required to receive and administer vaccines may be challenging in rural and remote areas. Before seizing the fake COVID-19 vaccines in South Africa, The International Criminal Police Organization issued an Orange Notice warning law info to prepare for organised crime networks that would target COVID-19 vaccines both digitally and among many populations.9 This alert outlined details of authorised and genuine vaccines and shipping methods that were supplied by pharmaceutical companies for the identification of fake vials.