Summary DRAP has flagged counterfeit Influvac Tetra and Vaxigrip Tetra flu vaccine batches, warning that their use could pose serious health risks.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has issued nationwide product alerts after detecting counterfeit batches of influenza vaccines allegedly being supplied to markets across the country.
The regulator identified fake batches of two flu vaccines, Influvac Tetra and Vaxigrip Tetra, warning that their quality, safety and effectiveness could not be guaranteed and that their use could pose serious health risks.
According to DRAP, counterfeit products have been circulated in the names of multinational pharmaceutical companies Abbott Pharma and Sanofi Winthrop.
The packaging of the counterfeit Influvac Tetra vaccine carries the address of Abbott Biologicals, Netherlands, while the Vaxigrip Tetra packaging bears the address of Sanofi Winthrop, France.
DRAP said Sanofi's distributor in Pakistan had reported the suspected supply of counterfeit flu vaccines.
The authority confirmed that Vaxigrip Tetra batch number Y4B34 had not been imported into Pakistan. Similarly, Influvac Tetra vaccine batch number P13, reportedly supplied in Lahore, was declared counterfeit.
DRAP warned that the quality and efficacy of the suspected counterfeit vaccines were unknown and their use could prove dangerous or even life-threatening.
The regulator advised citizens not to use the suspected products and urged them to report any suspected adverse effects to the National Pharmacovigilance Centre.
It also directed provincial governments to take immediate measures to prevent the sale, purchase and distribution of counterfeit vaccines.
Provincial drug control authorities and field enforcement teams have been instructed to immediately seize the identified counterfeit batches from the market.
