Thursday, August 13, 2020

Fake SARS-CoV-2 vaccines on sale in mainland China

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Images : Web Screenshots

Countries with corresponding scientific research capabilities have tried their best to develop SARS-CoV-2 vaccines but no country has officially launched effective and safe vaccines to the market. However, some people in the Internet community in the People's Republic of China have begun to promote the "SARS-CoV-2 vaccine" recently, and two models have appeared, priced at RMB 498 per dose. However, the two biological companies named on the outer packaging of the two "vaccines" responded to media inquiries, saying that their vaccine products have not yet been officially launched.

According to New Tang Dynasty Television, two styles of fake vaccines have recently appeared on social media in PRC. The packaging box not only marked the name of the manufacturer that produced the "vaccine", but also had a counterfeit traceability barcode. Basically, the vaccines do not appear to have flaws.

One of the vaccines is named "Kierlaifu SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine (Vero Cell) Inactivated". The approval number marked at the bottom of the orange packaging box is "pending", and there is a drug traceability barcode on it. Some netizens said that by scanning the barcode with Alipay, the manufacturer of the vaccine can be found as Beijing Kexing Zhongwei Biotechnology Co., Ltd.

Some netizens posted pictures of this vaccine on WeChat Moments, and posted a post saying, "If you need the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, you can contact me for export. The output is low and you need to line up. It will be officially launched on 2 September."

The name of the second fake vaccine delivered on WeChat is "SARS-CoV-2 Inactivated Vaccine (Vero Cell)". The packaging box is black on a white background with blue and green stripes on the far right. The manufacturer on the box is Wuhan Institute of Biological Products Co., Ltd.

The online seller peddling this vaccine said in a post, “498 RMB each, a total of 3 shots, have been released. Medical staff and personnel abroad can use it first. It will be popularized by the end of the year."

A reporter from Lu Media found that through the online transmission of the vaccine box barcode, it is indeed possible to find the source of the two vaccines from "Beijing Kexing Zhongwei Biotechnology Co., Ltd." and "Wuhan Institute of Biological Products Co., Ltd." However when a reporter from mainland China called these two companies to verify, their answer is that the vaccines have not yet been listed, and the prices have not been announced. Thus, it is impossible to sell them in circles of friends.

On 13 August 2020, the official website of Wuhan Institute of Biological Products Co., Ltd. announced that the company's SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine is currently undergoing phase three international clinical trials, and the vaccine product has not yet been officially launched, reminding the public not to be deceived.

In response, a person in charge of Beijing Kexing Zhongwei Biotechnology Company also stated that the vaccine is currently undergoing Phase III clinical studies in Brazil, Bangladesh and other countries. Its SARS-CoV-2 vaccine has not yet been launched.

Source : NTDTV

Ref : https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2020/08/13/a102917440.html

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