Government tasked to explain source of fake Hepatitis B vaccines
KAMPALA:
The Anti-Counterfeit Network (ACN) has tasked government to explain how fake Hepatitis B vaccines entered the country because it has caused anxiety in the population especially those that have been immunized against the deadly virus.
The National Drug Authority on Tuesday warned that there are fake Hepatitis B vaccines on the market and are being administered in immunization camps.
Speaking to Journalists at Protea Hotel in Kampala during a workshop on the withdraw of the Anti-Counterfeit Bill from parliament, Mr Fred Muwema the ACN Legal and Corporate Affairs Manager said that the ministry of health and different agencies charged with clearing of imported drugs owes Ugandans an answer on the fake vaccines.
Mr Muwema said that ACN is collecting evidence from different parts of Uganda on which they would base to lodge a suit against the government if it does not come out to clarify on the source of the fake vaccines and the remedy to the people that might have been immunized with it.
“The fake Hepatitis B vaccines scandal places the government in the middle of promotion and fight of counterfeits. If government and its agencies don’t come out to inform Ugandans on the matters concerning procurement of the fake vaccines, we shall seek legal redress,” Mr Muwema said.
The ACN wants the Joint Medical Stores, National Drug Authority, the Customs Authorities and the health Ministry to clarify on how many Ugandans have been vaccinated with fake products, who was in charge of procuring the said vaccines and what will be done to them.
They also want the government avail measures on protecting the remaining population.
On Tuesday, the NDA’s director of product safety Ms Helen Ndagi said the fake products were found in eight hospitals and clinics in Kampala, Mbale, Entebbe and Mbarara towns.
She named the affected facilities as; Mbarara Community Hospital, Devine Mercy Clinic, UMC hospital-(Bukoto), Malcolm Health Care (Kisaasi) and Kampala Medical Chambers.
Mr Amos Natumanya, the NDA regulatory officer said the genuine Hepatitis B vaccine being recommended for use in Uganda is manufactured by Serum Institute of India. The 10 ml vial has a batch number, manufacturing and expiry dates with a shelf-life of three years, two purple bands (top and bottom) on the label and only available in government health facilities.
