Pakistan is facing a shortage of genuine flu vaccines as supplies from major international and Chinese manufacturers dry up, leaving the market vulnerable to suspected counterfeit products, drug control officials said Wednesday.
Drug inspectors in Lahore have seized a large stock of suspected counterfeit flu vaccines and arrested two people in connection with the case.
An official from the Office of the Chief Drug Controller Punjab said vaccines from all major suppliers were currently unavailable in the market. Abbott’s and Sanofi’s influenza vaccines were among the products affected by the shortage.
The official said Abbott might not supply its flu vaccine to Pakistan at all this year. Sanofi, meanwhile, might deliver only a limited quantity toward the end of November or in December.
Chinese manufacturers have also failed to meet the shortfall. According to the official, stocks from Sinovac and Shenzhen Innovax have run out after both companies supplied limited quantities.
The shortage has created an opportunity for sellers of suspected counterfeit vaccines to enter the market. The official said the product seized in Lahore appeared to be a fake version of Influvac, a flu vaccine associated with Abbott.
The Punjab drug control official urged the public to purchase flu vaccines only from licensed pharmacies. He also advised buyers to check the product’s batch number and manufacturer’s seal and ensure that sellers have maintained the required cold chain during storage and transportation.
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