Regulatory Agency ANVISA Warns of Fake Covid-19 Vaccine Sold in Niterói

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A fake Covid-19 vaccine is being sold by a company based in Niterói, in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro, according to a denunciation received by the National Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa).

The agency warns that there is no vaccine against the disease authorized for use in Brazil. Consequently, no one should buy or use any alleged vaccine announced as capable of preventing the disease.

According to the denunciation submitted to the Anvisa, this fake Covid-19 vaccine is advertised as having been developed by Oxford University in partnership with the pharmaceutical AstraZeneca. There is indeed a vaccine under development by this university and this company, but it is still in the trial phase and can not be sold in Brazil. Volunteers are being administered doses of the vaccine, under controlled conditions. “Vaccines against Covid-19 exist in Brazil exclusively for use in clinical trials. There is no permission for marketing and distribution of these vaccines,” the ANVISA explains in a note.

According to the regulatory agency, the denunciation of the false vaccine was made on September 25th and on that same day a formal assessment and referral to the Federal Police (PF) was done. On Thursday, October 8th, the PF served search and seizure orders at a hospital company in downtown Niterói, in an attempt to advance the investigation of the case.

According to the FP the alleged actions may fall under two provisions of the Criminal Code: Art. 273 (falsifying, corrupting, adulterating or altering a product intended for therapeutic or medicinal purposes, with a penalty of between ten and fifteen years in prison) or Art. 171 (obtaining, for oneself or another person, an unfair advantage, to the detriment of others, by leading or holding someone in error, through deception, trickery, or any other fraudulent means, with a penalty of between one and five years in prison).

Source: Estadão Conteúdo