Fake COVID-19 vaccines – some that sold for $ 1,000 a shot and used as an anti-wrinkle substance as an ingredient – were found on black markets around the world, Pfizer confirmed to The Wall Street Journal.
“Pfizer has identified counterfeit versions of its COVID-19 vaccine in Mexico and Poland,” the company said in a statement. “We are aware that in this type of environment – fueled by the ease and convenience of e-commerce and the anonymity offered by the Internet – there will be an increase in the prevalence of fraud, counterfeiting and other illicit activities regarding vaccines and treatments for VOCID -19. “
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Six people were detained in Mexico during a police raid in February at a clinic after about 80 people paid $ 1,000 for a fake dose of Pfizer from fraudulently labeled bottles kept in beer coolers.
The pharmaceutical giant in New York found the vaccine fraud with microscopic instruments and special light.
No injuries were reported from the people who were shot.
“People were injected with distilled water,” a health secretary told a newspaper.
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A Polish suspect has been charged with fraud after an unspecified amount of Pfizer bottles was found in his apartment.
The fake vaccine, which apparently was not distributed to anyone, contained hyaluronic acid, a skin care material used to combat aging.
The Pfizer statement added that “no legitimate vaccine is sold online.”
Pfizer said it was working with “governments, law enforcement, health care providers and others to combat this illegal trade.”
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The Pfizer vaccine, which is 95% effective in a phase 3 study, is used in 88 countries around the world. As of Tuesday, 111.59 million doses of Pfizer have been administered globally.
In the United States, Pfizer administered 142,177,425 doses for use; 113,104,771 doses of Pfizer were administered; 43,276,992 were completely vaccinated in the United States with the Pfizer vaccine.