DRAP Issues Alert Over Counterfeit Flu Vaccines Circulating in Pakistan
Pakistan's drug regulator has warned that fake versions of Influvac Tetra and Vaxigrip Tetra are being sold in the country, naming specific counterfeit batches and urging doctors to avoid prescribing them.
The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has issued urgent warnings about counterfeit influenza vaccines being distributed across the country under the names of two well-known multinational brands, Influvac Tetra and Vaxigrip Tetra. Both Abbott Laboratories and Sanofi Winthrop, whose names appear on the packaging, have confirmed that the affected products are not genuine.
According to the regulator, the counterfeit Vaxigrip Tetra carries batch number Y4B34 and was never officially imported into Pakistan, despite its packaging naming Sanofi Winthrop, France, as the manufacturer. Sanofi's local distributor was the first to flag the suspicious product to the authorities. Separately, fake doses of Influvac Tetra from batch P13 have been found in Lahore, with packaging that lists Abbott Biologicals, Netherlands, as the producer.
DRAP issued distinct rapid alerts for each brand. It cautioned that the quality, efficacy, and safety of these counterfeit vaccines cannot be verified, and that their use could pose serious risks to public health. The authority has advised doctors not to prescribe the affected products and has called on distributors and pharmacies to report any suspected counterfeit vaccines without delay.
Members of the public have also been asked to report any adverse side effects to the National Pharmacovigilance Centre. In addition, DRAP has instructed provincial authorities to take emergency action to halt the supply chain, trace the origin of the counterfeit vaccines, and confiscate the affected batches.
The alert comes just days after reports that Pakistan is experiencing a shortage of flu vaccines, a situation that can create openings for counterfeiters. Last month, DRAP also issued warnings about life-threatening fake medicines circulating in the market, underscoring ongoing concerns about the integrity of the country's pharmaceutical supply chain.
Patients are advised to obtain flu vaccines only from licensed healthcare providers and to check packaging carefully. Suspected counterfeit products or adverse reactions should be reported to DRAP or the National Pharmacovigilance Centre as soon as possible.
