Article

Vaccine Shortages and Suspect Online Pharmacy Sellers

Vaccine (impact factor: 3.77). 01/2012; 30(2):105-108. pp.105-108

ABSTRACT Vaccines represent halfthe products on the FDA Biologics Product Shortages list. As a result, providers and
patients may purchase them online, a process rife with patient safety risks. We examined vaccine online
availability by assessing up to 5 identiļ¬ed online sellers. We determined if sites were accredited by the
NationalAssociation of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP)VIPPS program, listed as US or international, employed
socialmedia linking to suspect onlinepharmacies, andiftheywere ontheNABPNotRecommendedlist.All
vaccineswere advertised by online pharmacies and through data aggregation and socialmedia sites, none
were VIPPS-accredited, andmost were on the NABP Not Recommended list.We found some online sellers
advertising vaccines as over-the-counter. We extended our analysis to WHO Essential Medicines List
vaccines and found all are also available online from suspect, non-VIPPS accredited sellers. Stakeholders
should be aware of these online patient safety dangers.

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