Immunize BC warns of fake COVID-19 vaccines sold online

Health officials are warning the public after reports that COVID-19 vaccines are being advertised and sold online.

Immunize BC, the BCCDC’s evidence-based immunization resource, addressed the ongoing scam involving emails and websites that are offering the vaccine.

“These scams take advantage of genuine fears and worries,” Immunize BC says on Twitter. “Targeting those who are most vulnerable in our communities.”

Don’t buy COVID-19 vaccines that are advertised or sold online! We’ve heard about emails and websites offering to sell vaccines, and they are a scam. These scams take advantage of genuine fears and worries, targeting those who are most vulnerable in our communities. (1/4) pic.twitter.com/Vf4Ex5iN3U

— ImmunizeBC (@ImmunizeBC) January 19, 2021

The program warns against buying COVID-19 vaccines online, saying that they’re “counterfeit, may post risks to health, and are infective at protecting you from the COVID-19 virus.”

“The only way to access safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines is through clinics organized or endorsed by your local public health authority,” says Immunize BC.

• See also: 
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  • Lack of Pfizer vaccine next week means BC will miss “very significant” amount of doses

To date, 92,369 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in the province. And last week, health officials announced that they expect 3.4 million doses of the COVID-19 to be distributed in BC by June.

This number doesn’t include the additional 20 million doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 that was purchased by Canada earlier this month. It also doesn’t include vaccines that have yet to be approved by Health Canada, such as the AstraZeneca or the Johnson&Johnson vaccines.

Anyone that sees information regarding the sale or advertising of counterfeit vaccines is asked to report it to Health Canada.