Interpol warns about the sale of fake COVID-19 vaccines online

DUBLIN: Interpol warns that fake vaccines will arrive before the original vaccines hit the market.  The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) has warned European governments, including the Irish government, to remain vigilant to the sale of black-market COVID-19 vaccines.

Governments, including Ireland, have decided to launch a national COVID-19 vaccination programme in early January. Meanwhile, the UK has started giving the corona virus vaccine, which was developed by Pfizer and BioNTech. It was in the midst of these positive developments that Interpol warned of the online selling of fake vaccines.

Interpol has called on the Irish government to make the public aware of the dangers of such fraudulent vaccines. Subsequently, the government decided to include warnings about false vaccines in the campaign.

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar had announced that the vaccine would be provided to those who seek it free of charge. This would cost the government more than €117 million. A high-level task force report on the priority of the vaccination program is expected by December 11.