LAHORE: A shortage of seasonal influenza vaccines has been reported across Pakistan, with supplies from Chinese manufacturers exhausted and limited stocks from multinational pharmaceutical companies expected to arrive in the coming weeks. The situation has prompted concerns after authorities seized a large consignment of suspected counterfeit flu vaccines in Lahore and arrested two people.
According to drug control officials, the available stock of influenza vaccines supplied by Chinese companies has been depleted, leaving the products largely unavailable in the local market.
Officials said limited supplies from multinational pharmaceutical manufacturers were expected to reach the market by late November or December.
The shortage has heightened fears of counterfeit products entering the supply chain as consumers struggle to obtain genuine vaccines.
In a separate development, drug inspectors raided a location in Lahore and recovered a substantial quantity of vaccines suspected to be counterfeit. Two individuals allegedly involved in their sale were arrested, while authorities began proceedings to register a formal case.
Drug control officials said samples of the recovered vaccines had been sent for laboratory analysis to establish their authenticity. Investigators are also working to trace the source of the consignment and determine whether the seized products are counterfeit.
Authorities have urged the public to purchase influenza vaccines only from licensed pharmacies and exercise caution when buying them from unverified sources.
Consumers have also been advised to check batch numbers and ensure vaccines have been transported and stored under the recommended temperature-controlled conditions, known as the cold chain.
Officials stressed that maintaining the cold chain is crucial to preserving vaccine potency, quality and effectiveness.
Add a clear dateline and attributionReduce repeated vaccine shortage detailsClarify the counterfeit vaccine timeline
