Fake, potentially dangerous coronavirus vaccines with the logo of an Israeli state-funded research institute have been distributed in South America, Channel 12 news reports.
Ampules sporting the logo of the Migal Institute in the Galilee are reportedly being sold in several countries. In Ecuador, one seller was trading in the fake vaccines for $380 each.
Migal officials said they had alerted the Foreign Ministry, the World Health Organization and the foreign ministries of relevant South American nations to the fake vaccines.
Migal has been working on a new oral coronavirus vaccine for adults and children. In March officials at the institute said they believed the vaccine could be ready fairly quickly, as Migal has been working for years on a vaccine that could be customized for various viruses, and has now adapted that work to focus on the coronavirus.
A lab worker at Migal in an undated photo released by the research institute. (Courtesy: Lior Journo)
However, the vaccine is not yet ready, and the institute has stressed months of testing are still necessary.
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