Fake COVID-19 vaccination in India: an emerging dilemma?

India, known to be the world’s largest manufacturer and distributor of vaccines, started its free vaccine roll-outs against COVID-19 on 16 January 2021.1 To administer vaccines to its 1380 million population, the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 was formed to overlook collaborations at national, state and district levels for effective vaccine dissemination and roll-out.1 Despite these efforts, as of 4 July 2021, 4.6% of the population are fully vaccinated and 16.05% are partially vaccinated.2 Among the eight vaccines that are currently under various clinical trials, initially only two were granted emergency use authorisation (EUA) by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation: (1) COVISHIELD by the Serum Institute of India and (2) COVAXIN by Bharat Biotech.1 Sputnik V was later granted EUA in April 2021.3 In the rising fear of the third wave, the country is accelerating its vaccination efforts. Amidst these efforts, there are surmounting allegations of people receiving fake vaccination in various parts of the country. When the COVID-19 vaccine drive initially started, the INTERPOL had issued warning across its 194 member countries that this arena could be a prime target of criminal networks. Following this, in South Africa, 400 ampules, equivalent to 2400 doses, of fake COVID-19 vaccines were dismantled from a warehouse. A similar situation was seen in China when police seized more …