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China Says It Found Ring Said to Sell Improperly Stored Vaccines China Says It Found Ring Said to Sell Improperly Stored Vaccines
(about 5 hours later)
HONG KONG — The police in China said they had uncovered a criminal ring suspected of selling improperly stored vaccines in dozens of provinces beginning in 2010.HONG KONG — The police in China said they had uncovered a criminal ring suspected of selling improperly stored vaccines in dozens of provinces beginning in 2010.
After the arrest of a former doctor and her daughter in Shandong Province, in eastern China, the police said they were searching for 300 suspects across the country.After the arrest of a former doctor and her daughter in Shandong Province, in eastern China, the police said they were searching for 300 suspects across the country.
More than 20 people have been detained since last year or are on bail in connection with the case, the state news agency Xinhua reported on Saturday.More than 20 people have been detained since last year or are on bail in connection with the case, the state news agency Xinhua reported on Saturday.
The former doctor in Shandong was convicted of illegally selling vaccines in 2009 and was given a suspended three-year prison sentence, according to The Paper, an online news organization that first reported on the case. But rather than halt her activities after her conviction, the suspect, who has been identified by only her surname, Pang, apparently enlisted her daughter to expand the vaccine sales, officials said.The former doctor in Shandong was convicted of illegally selling vaccines in 2009 and was given a suspended three-year prison sentence, according to The Paper, an online news organization that first reported on the case. But rather than halt her activities after her conviction, the suspect, who has been identified by only her surname, Pang, apparently enlisted her daughter to expand the vaccine sales, officials said.
The Shandong authorities found indications that Ms. Pang was continuing to sell vaccines illegally in 2014, and they raided a storage site last year, The Paper reported. However, it is unclear why the case has become public only now.The Shandong authorities found indications that Ms. Pang was continuing to sell vaccines illegally in 2014, and they raided a storage site last year, The Paper reported. However, it is unclear why the case has become public only now.
The vaccine network spread across 24 provinces, regions and major cities including Beijing, Chongqing, Guangdong, Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Sichuan and Xinjiang, according to the Shandong Food and Drug Administration.The vaccine network spread across 24 provinces, regions and major cities including Beijing, Chongqing, Guangdong, Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Sichuan and Xinjiang, according to the Shandong Food and Drug Administration.
The vaccines in question had been stored without appropriate temperature control to prevent spoilage. More than a dozen suspect products have been identified, including vaccines for rabies, polio, meningitis, hepatitis B and mumps, the Shandong authorities said. Some Chinese news outlets have reported that 25 suspect products have been identified, with as many as two million doses sold. The vaccines were worth an estimated 570 million renminbi, or $88 million, Xinhua reported.The vaccines in question had been stored without appropriate temperature control to prevent spoilage. More than a dozen suspect products have been identified, including vaccines for rabies, polio, meningitis, hepatitis B and mumps, the Shandong authorities said. Some Chinese news outlets have reported that 25 suspect products have been identified, with as many as two million doses sold. The vaccines were worth an estimated 570 million renminbi, or $88 million, Xinhua reported.
The Xinhua report gave no specifics about any harm the improperly handled vaccines may have done.
The unfolding vaccine scandal follows other cases of dangerous foods and drugs that have shaken the Chinese public’s faith in the authorities’ ability to protect public health. In 2007, the former director of the State Food and Drug Administration was executed for taking bribes from pharmaceutical companies in exchange for approving drugs. A year later, the widespread use of the chemical melamine was discovered in infant formula. About 300,000 children were sickened, and at least six died. Despite the government’s promises to clean up the dairy industry in China, parents still prefer milk powder from overseas.The unfolding vaccine scandal follows other cases of dangerous foods and drugs that have shaken the Chinese public’s faith in the authorities’ ability to protect public health. In 2007, the former director of the State Food and Drug Administration was executed for taking bribes from pharmaceutical companies in exchange for approving drugs. A year later, the widespread use of the chemical melamine was discovered in infant formula. About 300,000 children were sickened, and at least six died. Despite the government’s promises to clean up the dairy industry in China, parents still prefer milk powder from overseas.
In a commentary on Saturday, Xinhua noted that the illegal vaccine case had stirred public anger and had raised questions about the effectiveness of public agencies. “The law is black and white,” the article said, “but the illegal sale of ‘questionable vaccines’ continues despite repeated prohibitions.”In a commentary on Saturday, Xinhua noted that the illegal vaccine case had stirred public anger and had raised questions about the effectiveness of public agencies. “The law is black and white,” the article said, “but the illegal sale of ‘questionable vaccines’ continues despite repeated prohibitions.”