Health ministry warns of COVID-19 vaccine fraud

10:06, 11/06/2021

The Drug Administration of Vietnam under the Ministry of Health has suggested localities, organisations and businesses that want to buy COVID-19 vaccines negotiate directly with vaccine producers to avoid fraudulent deeds, citing warnings by Interpol.

The Drug Administration of Vietnam under the Ministry of Health has suggested localities, organisations and businesses that want to buy COVID-19 vaccines negotiate directly with vaccine producers to avoid fraudulent deeds, citing warnings by Interpol.
Illustrative photo (Source: Xinhua/VNA)
Illustrative photo (Source: Xinhua/VNA)

In case they work with intermediaries, the intermediaries must be certified or authorised by producers, it said.

The agency gave the advice amid the mushrooming offers to sell COVID-19 vaccines from organisations and individuals that claim they have access to supplies or redundant vaccines. Many people are also invited to register for vaccination through different forms of advertising.  

The drug administration agency said COVID-19 vaccines used in Vietnam must be approved by the health ministry for emergency use, adding that each batch of vaccines must be licensed by the agency before being imported to Vietnam, and assessed by the National Institute for Control of Vaccines and Biologicals before being used in the country. All of the vaccines require cold chain storage.

According to the agency, the ministry is actively negotiating with vaccine producers and international organisation to acquire more vaccines that are provided free of charge for the public.

People should get vaccine shots only at medical facilities authorised by the health ministry, the agency said, urging the public to report signs of scams in this regard to local authorities./.

(Source:VNA)