Uppsala Reports Long Reads – Substandard and falsified COVID-19 vaccines in the Americas

While COVID-19 vaccinations are picking up speed in many wealthy countries, citizens of lower-income countries still face a long wait ­– and where demand exceeds supply, black markets tend to form. So to curb the spread of substandard and falsified products, says drug regulatory specialist Danini Marin, we must ensure that COVID-19 vaccines are distributed equitably around the world.This episode is part of the Uppsala Reports Long Reads series – the most topical stories from UMC’s pharmacovigilance magazine, brought to you in audio format. Find the original article here.After the read, we talk to Danini about the COVAX programme, organised crime, and trust in vaccinations.Tune in to find out:Why COVID-19 vaccine delivery to low- and middle-income countries has been inadequate so farWhat threats substandard and falsified vaccines pose to people and countriesHow you can help mitigate the spread of compromised productsWant to know more?Tune into our first episode to learn about the deadly trade of fake medicines from former Interpol officer Aline Plançon.The US Food and Drug Administration has more information on the COVID-19 vaccines authorised for emergency use in the country, plus other useful resources on vaccines.In March 2021, the Infectious Disease Data Observatory reported 54 incidents of COVID-19 vaccines being substandard, falsified, or diverted from the legal supply chain.In the same month, Interpol and the US’s Homeland Security Investigations warned the public against purchasing alleged COVID-19 vaccines online, while the World Health Organization issued a medical product alert on a falsified COVID-19 vaccine detected in Mexico.WHO also curates a database on COVID-19 vaccine candidates in development around the world.Finally, don’t forget to ­subscribe to the monthly Uppsala Reports newsletter for free regular updates from the world of pharmacovigilance. Join the conversation on social mediaFollow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, or Bluesky and share your thoughts about the show with the hashtag #DrugSafetyMatters.Got a story to share?We’re always looking for new content and interesting people to interview. If you have a great idea for a show, get in touch!About UMCRead more about Uppsala Monitoring Centre and how we promote safer use of medicines and vaccines for everyone everywhere.

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