UEL supports new research to identify fake vaccines

Researchers at the University of East London have played their part in an international consortium led by the University of Oxford, which has published an innovative method to identify falsified vaccines without opening the vaccine vial. 

The new method analyses the vaccine vial label and its adhesive and therefore allows the genuine vaccine vials to be retained in the supply chain. Furthermore, the study has shown that the technique can also differentiate genuine Covid-19 vaccine liquid from falsified vaccine surrogates, using a recently published method developed using non-Covid vaccines.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 10.5 per cent of medicines worldwide in low- and middle-income countries are substandard or falsified (i.e. fake) medicines made by criminals. This threatens global health since the medicines and vaccines fail to prevent and treat the diseases for which they were intended, and they risk additional adverse health consequences if the ingredients used by criminals in the falsified products are harmful.

The development of vaccines against COVID-19 was a remarkable achievement marked by the supply and distribution of billions of doses worldwide. Although the vast majority of COVID-19 vaccines were genuine and efficacious, falsified vaccines, including the COVISHIELD™ vaccine, were found in Uganda, India and Myanmar. In these cases, the label on the vaccine vial had also been falsified.

The Vaccine Identify Evaluation (VIE) Collaboration is developing novel tests for detecting falsified vaccines in supply chains. The international consortium who worked on this study included representatives from:

• University of Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery and Department of Chemistry
• STFC, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
• WHO, Geneva
• Serum Institute of India
• bioMérieux, France
• University of East London
• Agilent Technologies

In this new study, researchers in the VIE team have used devices, called MALDI-ToF mass spectrometers, which are widely available throughout the world and used in hospitals for identifying bacteria. They tested the COVISHIELD™ vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India and showed for the first time that analysis of spectra from the vaccine vial label and its adhesive could be used to detect falsified vaccines – this novel method could be applied to other medicine labels.

The vaccine liquid could also be easily differentiated from a range of solutions commonly used in falsified vaccines, such as amikacin which had been used for falsified COVISHIELD™ vaccine.

VIE team leader, Professor Paul Newton of the Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, said:

"This innovative approach gives a relatively simple and accessible method for the local screening of vaccine labels and liquids for authenticity and detecting falsified vaccines when fake labels have been used. For implementation in supply chains, joined-up systems for access to MALDI-ToF vaccine labels and liquid reference libraries will be needed, but such libraries are already available for bacteria."

Dr Hamid Merchant, Head of Department for Bioscience at the University of East London, commented:

Infiltration of falsified vaccines into the medical supply chain is a growing concern and a serious risk to public health. Fake and sub-standard vaccines also contribute to vaccine hesitancy and reduced public trust on vaccines at large. This non-invasive screening tool can provide a means of rapid surveillance to authenticate vaccines at various check points within the supply chain. 

The method can also be adapted to detect other falsified medications, such as injections. I am excited to be the part of the Vaccine Identify Evaluation Collaborative, led by the Oxford scientists, committed to improve vaccine safety by providing novel solutions to protect the supply chain from falsified and sub-standard vaccines.

“This publication has come in time for the Year of Health at the University of East London. The year 2025 is dedicated to innovating health education, advocating for equitable policies, investing in community-focused care and leveraging technology to push the boundaries of healthcare innovation.”

UEL is embedded in Newham - a borough facing some of the UK’s most pressing health disparities, so we are uniquely positioned to make a difference. 

• In Newham, healthy life expectancy is over a decade lower than the rest of London. 
• North-east London has the highest number of patients per GP in the capital.
• 20 per cent of children aged 2-2.5 in east London are below their expected level of development.

We believe that health is a right, not a privilege.

We’re committed to driving equitable access to healthcare, recognising that true equity doesn’t come from a one-size-fits-all approach. Diverse communities have diverse needs, and effective solutions must reflect that reality.