Health Canada warning: Do not buy counterfeit COVID-19 vaccines

As the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines land in Canada and get administered, Health Canada is sounding the alarm on possible scams, warning against potential counterfeit versions being sold online.

Through a press release, Health Canada is reminding Canadians not to shop or buy COVID-19 vaccines online or from unknown sources. The only way to obtain a vaccine is through a designated medical clinic to ensure they’re real and effective.

A fake COVID-19 vaccine could cause serious health risks and ultimately would be ineffective against warding off COVID-19. The only one authorized by the Canadian government right now is the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Their rollout has already started and they are being delivered to Canadians at no cost. They require a temperature of -70 Celsius for proper storage.

A second vaccine developed by Moderna is being prepared for delivery in Canada once it gets approval from Health Canada.

Health Canada said it will be cracking down on counterfeiters and work with the Canada Border Services Agency, International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to ensure that Canadians are safe.

If anyone has concerns regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, they’re advised to contact their doctor or their local public health authority.