Fake Flu Vaccines in Pakistan: DRAP Issues Alert

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has issued alerts over counterfeit influenza vaccines being supplied in the country under the names of two multinational brands. The fake flu vaccines carry the names Influvac Tetra and Vaxigrip Tetra, and the companies whose names appear on the packaging have confirmed that the vaccines are fake.

Abbott Laboratories and Sanofi Winthrop, the firms named on the packs, have both confirmed that the products are counterfeit. That confirmation matters, because it removes any doubt about whether the batches are genuine stock sold through an unofficial channel. They are not genuine stock at all.

DRAP has issued separate rapid alerts for the two products, and has told provincial authorities to take emergency steps to stop the supply chain, trace the source, and confiscate the affected batches. Anyone offered one of the named batches should not use it, and should report it instead.

Fake flu vaccines: the batches named by DRAP

The first batch named is Vaxigrip Tetra batch Y4B34. According to DRAP, this batch is counterfeit and was never officially imported into Pakistan. Its packaging lists Sanofi Winthrop, France, as the manufacturer. Sanofi’s local distributor was the first to alert the authorities, which suggests the fake stock was spotted when it reached a legitimate part of the supply chain.

The second product is fake Influvac Tetra from batch P13, found in Lahore. Its packaging lists Abbott Biologicals, Netherlands, as the manufacturer. The Lahore finding shows the problem is not limited to one city or one entry point, and it is one reason DRAP has told all provinces to act, rather than leaving the matter to a single district.

Readers should check the batch number, not just the brand name. Genuine Influvac Tetra and Vaxigrip Tetra vaccines may still be in legitimate use, but the two batches named here, Y4B34 and P13, are the ones DRAP has declared counterfeit. A pack with a different batch number is not covered by this alert, though any pack that looks tampered with should still be reported.

Why the alert is serious

DRAP has warned that the quality, efficacy, and safety of these counterfeit vaccines are unknown, and that their use may pose serious safety and quality risks to public health. A fake vaccine can fail in two ways at once: it may not protect against influenza, leaving the person open to infection, and it may contain substances that cause harm on their own. That double risk is why the regulator has told doctors not to prescribe the named batches.

Doctors, distributors, and pharmacies have been told to report any suspected fake vaccines to DRAP at once. Citizens have been asked to report any side effects to the National Pharmacovigilance Centre (NPC). Those two reporting routes serve different purposes. Reports to DRAP help trace and seize stock, while reports to the NPC help track harm in people who may already have received a fake dose.

What provinces and the public should do

Frequently asked questions

Which fake flu vaccine batches has DRAP named?

DRAP named Vaxigrip Tetra batch Y4B34, which was never officially imported into Pakistan, and Influvac Tetra batch P13, found in Lahore. Both have been confirmed as counterfeit by the companies named on their packaging.

Are all Influvac Tetra and Vaxigrip Tetra vaccines fake?

No. The alert covers only the named batches, Y4B34 and P13. Other batches are not covered by this alert, but any pack that looks tampered with should still be reported to DRAP.

Why are fake flu vaccines dangerous?

Their quality, efficacy, and safety are unknown. A fake vaccine may fail to protect against influenza and may also contain substances that cause harm, which is why DRAP told doctors not to prescribe the named batches.

What should I do if I am offered a named batch?

Do not use it. Refuse the batch, buy only from licensed pharmacies and recognised health facilities, and report the suspected fake vaccine to DRAP at once.

Where do I report side effects from a fake vaccine?

Citizens have been asked to report side effects to the National Pharmacovigilance Centre, while doctors, distributors, and pharmacies should report suspected fake stock directly to DRAP.