Page 22 - WAD Beyond Global May 2021

COUNCIL OF EUROPE REPORT

Covid-19: what measures to

combat fake vaccines?

Strasbourg, 27.04.2021 – Amid the rise market, including vaccines that misrepresent
in counterfeiting and other illegal activities their identity and/or source, as well as the
related to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Council diversion of legally produced vaccines from the
of Europe is issuing new recommendations legal supply chain. The Committee proposes
to governments based on its Convention on preventive measures in co-operation with
the counterfeiting of medical products and the relevant sectors to strengthen the supply
similar crimes involving threats to public health chain, ensure the authenticity of vaccines, and
(MEDICRIME Convention). improve arrangements for the disposal of
Covid-19 vaccine waste.
As regulators around the world approve
more vaccines for sale, reports of seizures of The Committee also emphasises the
counterfeit vaccines continue to rise. In an advice importance of training relevant government
published today, the MEDICRIME Committee officials (customs officers, police and judges)
sets out 13 measures to prevent and combat and raising public awareness.
the presence of counterfeit vaccines on the or falsified medicines and medical products.

FEATURE The only international treaty of its kind, the 2011 Faced with this threat, states can rely on the The Council of Europe
Background
MEDICRIME Convention to safeguard public
Convention on the counterfeiting of medical
on
Convention
the
health and target the criminal behaviour
products and similar crimes involving threats
Counterfeiting of Medical
to public health (MEDICRIME Convention) has
of those who, like criminal networks, take
Similar
Products
and
advantage of the loopholes in our systems and
been ratified by 18 countries and signed by 15
Crimes Involving Threats
others in Europe and beyond.
MEDICRIME Convention),
“In recent years, occurrences of counterfeiting
The Convention provides a framework for of the current crisis. to Public Health (the
national and international co-operation of medical products nd similar crimes have is an important legal
between the competent health, police and increased worldwide. These crimes endanger instrument to be
customs authorities at both national and public health, and affect patients and their implemented by Parties,
international level, measures for crime confidence in the legal marketplace. member States of the
prevention by also involving the private sector, Council of Europe and
and the effective prosecution of crime and the Even more profitable than drug trafficking, other countries to prevent
protection of victims and witnesses. this new form of crime has an undeniable and combat the presence
advantage for criminals: they go largely
Advice on the application of the MEDICRIME unpunished or receive only mild sanctions. Even of counterfeit (hereinafter
Convention in the context of COVID-19. when states take strict measures to regulate falsified) vaccines, that
The Committee of the Parties of the MEDICRIME the production and distribution of medical is vaccines with a false
Convention advises that the Coronavirus products and devices, these measures often representation with
disease (COVID-19) pandemic has created prove insufficient, especially when criminal regard to their identity
extraordinary challenges for the authorities of networks find gaps in national legislations and/or source, as well as
all member States of the Council of Europe and allowing them to make substantial profits the diversion of legally
other countries. There are specific and intense at the expense of people’s lives and health. produced vaccines from
challenges for staff working in various places. The MEDICRIME Convention was drafted to the legal supply chain.
The protection of the public health systems and protect vulnerable patients and their right to As more vaccines have
individual health rests not only with healthcare safe access to medicines of appropriate quality, become authorised by
practitioners and health service providers, but and to fight against organised crime. As the first
with all those who contribute to the protection and only international treaty dealing with this regulators around the
of public health from falsified medical products problem, the convention aims at prosecuting globe for use, there have
and similar crimes. the counterfeiting of medical products and been increasing reports
similar crimes, protecting the rights of victims of seizures of falsified
At a time when the Covid-19 epidemic is posing and promoting national and international vaccines.
unprecedented challenges to the health sector, co-operation.”
the Council of Europe calls on governments
to be extremely vigilant against counterfeit Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni
Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe
20 W.A.D Beyond Global