Indian doctors have warned that selling unauthorized Covid-19 vaccines on the black market, where vendors charge Bitcoin as payment, is illegal. According to the doctors, unauthorized marketing of the vaccine to the elite is widespread in the state of Karnataka. Some doctors say the Government of India needs to step in by tracking down these providers.
Vaccine for VIPs
Media reports from this country confirm that doctors have “received calls from VIP patients asking whether these Covid-19 vaccines offered by certain vendors are real and can be taken”. For example, the President of the Indian Association of Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes (Phana) has confirmed that he has heard of such vaccine sales.
The Phana President, known as “Dr. HM Prasanna claims in a report that he heard that residents were being given certain vaccines against Bitcoin. While condemning the unapproved sales, Prasanna urges potential buyers of the unapproved vaccines “to exercise caution (in such cases) and to follow government guidelines on this matter.”
Citizens have to wait for the government-approved vaccine
In the meantime, such reports are being published of the exchange of unverified Covid-19 vaccines for Bitcoin, as “the distribution of (all) such vaccines in the country is still considered illegal”. Instead of resorting to illegal vaccines, Indian doctors insist that “citizens must wait for the government to introduce the product through the Drug Controller General of India”.
Another doctor, Giridhara Babu, an epidemiologist and member of the Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19 Management in Karnataka State, said he did not personally come across such vaccines on the black market. However, Babu, who calls on the Indian government to curb illegal vaccine sellers, claims the sale and distribution of such Covid-19 vaccines “exacerbates inequalities as only those with money and power can gain access”.
On the other hand, Babu explains that “those who take such vaccines may feel that it is an immunity booster, but may be taking a useless product.” In the meantime, India will start vaccinating against Covid-19 from January 16. Priority will be given to healthcare workers and frontline workers.
How do you feel about selling unapproved Covid-19 vaccines for BTC? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.
Photo credit: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons
