A statement on COVID-19 and vaccines: ensuring equitable access to vaccination during the current and future pandemics has been issued by the Council of Europe Committee on Bioethics. The MEDICRIME Committee of the Parties (MEDICRIME CoP) contributed to it by warning of the danger of the possible sale of counterfeit vaccines together with other anti-COVID materials.
Following this statement, “in accordance with the Council of Europe Convention on the Counterfeiting of Medical Products and Similar Crimes Involving Threats to Public Health (MEDICRIME Convention), a system should be in place to prevent and combat the presence of counterfeit vaccines on the market, namely vaccines with false representation as regards their identity and/or source, as well as the diversion of legally produced vaccines from the legal supply chain”.
Several recommendations are made IN THE STATEMENT to ensure the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. The quality of vaccination is crucial to guarantee equitable access to vaccination in times of pandemic.