The International Criminal Police Organisation has alerted Nigeria, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States and 190 other countries of threat from organised crime groups during the upcoming COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, including fake vaccines and the theft of supplies.
The need for a vaccine has become more urgent globally and nationally with Nigeria recording over 67,000 COVID-19 infections and over 1,000 associated fatalities, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
The World Health Organisation has identified 49 “candidate vaccines” at the stage of clinical trials in humans by mid-November, up from 11 in mid-June.
Hopes are high that shots could be ready for use before the end of the year as two frontrunner vaccines – by Moderna and BioNTech/Pfizer – already reported that phase 3 trials for their mRNA vaccine showed 95 per cent efficacy in preventing Covid-19 symptoms and did not produce adverse side effects among thousands of volunteers.
Interpol, however, observed that there is a rise in the activities of criminals who have started advertising fake COVID-19 and flu vaccines, especially online.
According to a statement on Wednesday by Interpol Secretary General, Jürgen Stock, some criminal groups have already started selling fake vaccines online.
Stock, therefore, stressed the need for coordination between law enforcement and health regulatory bodies to ensure the safety of individuals and wellbeing of communities are protected.
In the statement titled, ‘INTERPOL warns of organised crime threat to COVID-19 vaccines’, Stock stated, “As governments are preparing to roll out vaccines, criminal organisations are planning to infiltrate or disrupt supply chains.
“Criminal networks will also be targeting unsuspecting members of the public via fake websites and false cures, which could pose a significant risk to their health, even their lives.
“It is essential that law enforcement is as prepared as possible for what will be an onslaught of all types of criminal activity linked to the COVID-19 vaccine, which is why INTERPOL has issued this global warning.”
According to him, 3,000 websites associated with online pharmacies are suspected of selling fake medicines and medical devices.
He advised members of the 194 countries to take special care when going online to search for medical equipment or medicines.
