China's health regulators released a public list of fake vaccines sold in 18 provinces since 2011 and pledges to crackdown the ongoing scam. The fake or 'problematic' vaccines list included one therapeutic drug, two immune globulin and 12 vaccines that a mother-daughter supposedly sold before their arrest in Shandong Province.
The products included in the list are said to be worth more than 88 million dollars (570 million yuan). The alleged fake products have been sold to both distributors and pharmaceutical companies who had been given a March 25 deadline to provide information about the products' whereabouts.
Prior to the arrest, the mother-daughter duo purchased and sold the fake vaccines for a profit to hundreds of re-sellers across China. The mother was a former doctor and the two were arrested in April 2015 but the case was not highly publicized until now.
While the vaccines were manufactured by legitimate and licensed producers, the vaccines were improperly stored and transported. The mishandling jeopardized the products' quality and efficacy.
Improper handling also can result in side effects that can cause disabilities and even death. The list included vaccines against rabies and meningitis among others.
"We will thoroughly investigate all clues in the case and once we get to the bottom of it then we will severely punish those found to have violated the law," said the Shandong food and drug administration in a statement.
The notice encouraged other provinces to check their vaccine supply in case they had been sold the alleged products. Patients given the 'fake' vaccines could also end up suffering dire consequences.
The incident brings to light frustrations from several doctors and patients in the country. They highlighted that the limited access to some drugs due to the red tape surrounding approvals, furthers the demand for medical products from the black market and other unapproved channels.
Just last year, Pfizer Inc. closed its trade in China for the Prevenar vaccine. It was the only vaccine Pfizer sold in China. The drug maker decided to close its vaccine sales when the license was not renewed.
Pfizer's Prevenar vaccine protects against the pneumococcal disease that can lead to sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis.
Photo: Carlos Reusser Monsalvez | Flickr
