KUANTAN: The National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency has advised the public not to be fooled into buying influenza vaccines from online sellers as it is illegal and can pose health risks if consumed without the doctor's advised.
Pharmaceutical Division deputy director Mazlan Ismail said the agency had received reports claiming that people were selling the vaccines on social media platforms and e-commerce websites following the recent spread of influenza virus in the country.
He said the agency had been monitoring the activities online and identified accounts believed to have been selling the substance.
"Vaccines have never been a hot or popular item when it comes to the pharmaceutical world here in Malaysia.
"However, following the recent influenza cases in the media, it sparked a sudden demand as stocks were running low at private medical facilities.
"We will compile the social media accounts and track down the responsible parties," he told the New Straits Times.
Mazlan said vaccines must be registered with the Health Ministry and were not allowed to be sold online without any proper storage and management.
He said the substances sold online could turn out to be fake medicine and urged the public to stay away from them.
"Avoid it at any cost. It could be fake, with just a combination of water and salt. There is no way for the customers to prove if it is the real vaccines," he said, adding there had been cases where both authentic and fake vaccines were smuggled into the country illegally.
Mazlan urged Malaysians to get their vaccination only from legitimate clinics and hospitals after consulting with the doctor.
It was reported by a private clinic in Kuantan that a couple with their children in tow had requested to be vaccinated from what they had purchased online.
An employee at the clinic reported that the couple presented the “vaccines” that were labelled Influvac, a type of flu-vaccine.
When asked to verify the seller, the couple were unable to provide further information.
The clinic reportedly denied the couple’s request.