LAHORE: Pakistan is facing a growing shortage of seasonal influenza vaccines as supplies from major multinational and Chinese manufacturers have become increasingly difficult to obtain, raising concerns about access to vaccination ahead of the winter flu season and creating opportunities for suspected counterfeit products to enter the market.
The situation has taken on an added public-health dimension after drug inspectors in Lahore seized a large quantity of suspected counterfeit influenza vaccines and arrested two people allegedly involved in their sale.
Drug control officials said vaccines from major suppliers were unavailable in the market, with limited supplies from multinational pharmaceutical companies potentially reaching Pakistan only towards the end of November or in December. Stocks of vaccines supplied by Chinese manufacturers had also reportedly been exhausted.
The shortage has prompted authorities to caution the public against buying influenza vaccines from unauthorised sellers and to emphasise the importance of checking product authenticity, batch details and appropriate temperature-controlled storage.
Lahore raid uncovers suspected counterfeit Influvac stock
In the Lahore operation, drug inspectors acting on intelligence raided premises and recovered a substantial quantity of suspected counterfeit flu vaccines. Two people allegedly involved in the sale of the products were arrested, according to information provided to Medical News Pakistan.
An official from the Office of the Chief Drug Controller Punjab told that the suspected product was a counterfeit version of Influvac, an influenza vaccine associated with multinational pharmaceutical company Abbott.
The official said the exact location of the raid, the quantity seized and the identities of the arrested individuals had not been disclosed. The recovered stock was taken into custody, while investigations were initiated to establish its authenticity, trace its source and determine how it was intended to enter the market.
The information provided to Medical News Pakistan states that a case was registered against the suspects. Earlier, official had said an FIR would be registered under the Drugs Act, 1976.
Abbott, Sanofi and Chinese vaccine stocks affected
The shortage appears to extend across several major suppliers.
According to an other news published in The News, an official from the Office of the Chief Drug Controller Punjab said that influenza vaccines manufactured by Abbott and Sanofi were not available in the market at the time of reporting.
According to the official, Abbott might not supply its influenza vaccine to Pakistan at all during the current year, while Sanofi could bring only a limited quantity towards the end of November or in December.
Chinese manufacturers, whose products had been expected to help meet some of the demand, were also facing depleted stocks. The official said supplies from Sinovac and Shenzhen Innovax had run out after the companies' limited quantities were exhausted.
The situation has left consumers with fewer options for obtaining genuine seasonal influenza vaccines through the regular market, particularly as demand rises ahead of winter.
Vaccine price approval delays multinational supplies
The supply disruption is also linked to a pricing issue involving imported influenza vaccines.
On October 24, mainstream media reported that multinational pharmaceutical companies had not brought their influenza vaccines into the Pakistani market because the federal government had not yet approved the revised maximum retail price recommended by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).
The report said the companies were apparently unwilling to import the vaccines at the previous price of Rs1,300 or even the regulator's recommended price of Rs1,524.
Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal told media that two companies could not import their vaccines while awaiting a revision of the maximum retail price, a matter pending before the federal cabinet.
DRAP officials said the two multinational companies had not applied for price increases under the hardship category, while officials in the health ministry and pharmaceutical industry indicated that one company might not bring its vaccine this year and another could import a limited quantity in November, potentially reaching the market by mid-December.
The report also identified Federal Minister for Climate Change Musadik Malik as part of the government-level process concerning the proposed price. DRAP officials said the pricing matter had been referred to him before being sent to the federal cabinet for final consideration. A committee comprising Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal had already approved the regulator's recommended price, according to the officials.
The pricing issue therefore remains an important part of the supply picture, although the availability of individual brands and the timing of future imports may also depend on manufacturers' decisions.
Health minister disputes nationwide shortage claims
The government and drug control officials have offered differing assessments of vaccine availability.
On October 23, Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal rejected reports of a nationwide shortage, saying influenza vaccines remained available in Pakistan and that the problem concerned the unavailability of particular multinational brands awaiting government price approval.
At the time, the minister said two Chinese-origin influenza vaccines were available in the market. He also said the World Health Organization (WHO) had approved three-strain influenza vaccines for the season, while four-strain formulations had been withdrawn globally.
However, drug control officials reported on October 29 that stocks from Chinese manufacturers, including Sinovac and Shenzhen Innovax, had also been exhausted.
The two accounts reflect the changing supply situation and the distinction between the availability of some products at one point in time and the subsequent depletion of stocks. They also underline why consumers may encounter different levels of availability depending on the brand, location and date.
DRAP issues separate alert over falsified Sanofi vaccine
Adding to concerns about the authenticity of influenza vaccines in Pakistan, DRAP issued a separate rapid alert on October 27, 2026, concerning a falsified batch of Vaxigrip Tetra, a quadrivalent influenza vaccine purportedly manufactured by Sanofi Winthrop Industrie, France.
The alert identified the product as batch number Y4B34 and stated that the suspected batch had never been imported or distributed in Pakistan.
According to DRAP, the alert followed information from Hoechst Pakistan Limited, which reported that the falsified product had been found in the market.
The regulator warned that use of the falsified vaccine could pose serious safety and quality risks. It directed its regulatory field force and provincial drug control departments to conduct surveillance throughout the supply chain and confiscate the suspected product.
DRAP also advised healthcare professionals to exercise increased vigilance when procuring vaccines for pharmacies, healthcare facilities and institutions. Consumers were told not to use the identified batch and to contact their healthcare provider if they had experienced any problem after using it.
The DRAP alert concerning Vaxigrip Tetra batch Y4B34 is separate from the Lahore seizure involving suspected counterfeit Influvac stock. The two products should not be confused, and the DRAP alert does not mean that every Vaxigrip Tetra product or every influenza vaccine in Pakistan is falsified.
Pakistan’s vaccine requirement far exceeds last year’s imports
The supply concerns are particularly relevant given the potential demand for seasonal influenza vaccination in Pakistan.
According to figures cited in The News report from DRAP import data, Pakistan imported 740,718 doses of influenza vaccine during the previous year.
Of these, 205,000 doses were imported by one multinational company and 275,000 by another, while Sindh Medical Stores imported 105,000 doses of Chinese vaccine. The remaining quantity came through other importers.
The report also cited WHO estimates suggesting that Pakistan could require around 30 million doses annually for groups considered at higher risk of influenza complications. These included approximately 10 million older people, five million pregnant women, one million healthcare workers and 14 million people with chronic medical conditions. Including an estimated one million doses for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims could take the preliminary annual requirement to around 31 million doses.
The figures highlight the substantial difference between the country's estimated potential requirement and the number of doses imported in the previous year. They should, however, be understood as estimates of potential need rather than a confirmed national procurement target or a measure of current vaccine demand.
What consumers should check before buying a flu vaccine
With authorities investigating suspected counterfeit products, consumers should take particular care when obtaining influenza vaccines.
Drug control officials have advised the public to purchase vaccines only from licensed pharmacies and authorised retail outlets. Buyers should also check the product's batch number, manufacturer details and seal, and ensure that the vaccine has been stored and transported under the required cold-chain conditions.
The WHO notes that influenza vaccines generally require storage at temperatures between 2°C and 8°C, although the precise requirements should always be checked against the product's approved instructions.
A vaccine that has been improperly stored may lose quality or potency even if its packaging appears genuine. Consumers should therefore avoid buying vaccines from informal sellers, online sources or outlets that cannot establish their authorisation and proper storage arrangements.
Anyone uncertain about a vaccine's authenticity should consult a licensed pharmacist or healthcare professional before use. Suspected falsified products and adverse events should be reported to DRAP or the relevant provincial drug control authorities.
As Pakistan approaches the winter influenza season, the availability of genuine vaccines, timely resolution of supply constraints and effective action against suspected counterfeit products will be important to protecting public confidence and ensuring that people at higher risk can access safe vaccination.
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