Biological product companies said on Thursday that their vaccines had not even entered the market, in response to a query about some online advertisements peddling "COVID-19 vaccines" produced by them.
Recently, an advertisement for a "COVID-19 vaccine" has been appearing on some people's WeChat accounts. It claimed that the vaccine will cost 498 yuan per dose and three shots will be enough.
"Medical workers and those who need to travel abroad will have priority, and the vaccine will be widely used by the end of this year," read the advertisement.
According to pictures circulating online, the "vaccines" were supposedly developed by Beijing-based Sinovac Life Sciences Corp and Wuhan Institute of Biological Products Co.
Sinovac said that they did not produce the vaccines, as their products are still under Phase-III trial in Brazil and Indonesia.
Peddling vaccines on social media platforms such as WeChat is also illegal, as the Vaccine Administration Law of China says that apart from disease control and prevention agencies, no institutes or individuals are allowed to provide vaccines to vaccination units.
"Medical workers and those who need to travel abroad will have priority, and the vaccine will be widely used by the end of this year," read the advertisement.
