The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that fake Covishield vaccine doses have been seized in India and Uganda.
Fake Covishield vials of 2ml were found to be fake as SII confirmed it does not produce the vaccine in 2ml (four doses). WHO said in statement that the doses were seized by authorities in India and Africa between July and August.
The two-dose vaccine, jointly developed by the Oxford Vaccine Group and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, is locally manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII) under the brand name Covishield.
SII has supplied Covishield vaccines to many countries in Asia, Africa and South America as part of the Indian government's "vaccine diplomacy".
Urging for increased vigilance, WHO said the use of genuine covid-19 vaccines should be in accordance with official guidance from national regulatory authorities.
The Union health ministry told BBC it is investigating the matter. “Although we have a strong system to prevent such cases, with this development, the only thing we want to ensure is that no Indian received a fake vaccine. A vaccination certificate that we give has proper details about the vaccine administered such as batch number, manufacturing details, and adverse reactions. More so, the supply chains are also strictly monitored. We have not received any complaint from anywhere in India so far. We are investigating the matter," a senior health ministry official told BBC on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, SII chairman Cyrus Poonawalla said he was not in favour of mixing two difference vaccines, and criticised the Union government for banning exports of vaccines. "After six months, the antibodies go down and that is why I have taken the third dose. We have given the third dose to our seven to eight thousand SII employees. For those who have completed the second dose, it is my request to take a booster dose (third dose) after six months," he said in Pune.