AstraZeneca, the British-Swedish pharma multinational, has warned the Sri Lankan government against purchasing AstraZeneca-Oxford Covid vaccines from private companies, saying these vaccines are likely “counterfeit”. It also added that such offers should be refused, reported Daily Mirror.

The Sri Lanka government was reportedly in touch with several private players who were claiming to have stock of AstraZeneca vaccines and ready to sell them at a higher price. The Sri Lankan government is in desperate need of 600,000 vaccines for the second jab for those people who have already received their first shot. 

However, before buying it, the Sri Lanka government wanted to check the authenticity of the vaccines. The government said they would purchase vaccines only if the original manufacturer, AstraZeneca, would confirm the authenticity of vaccines. Officials of the Sri Lanka government then approached AstraZeneca. 

In a letter to the Sri Lankan government, the company replied, "As such, there is currently no private sector supply, sale, or distribution of the vaccine. If a trader or company other than AstraZeneca offers private vaccines, it is likely counterfeit, so should be refused and reported to the relevant authorities,” 

It also added that only COVAX, UNICEF, and the Serum Institute of India are designated partners to sell vaccines to provide vaccines to the island nation. 

(SAM)