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Vaccine scandal like one in China have eventually led to reforms and safer drugs

Japan, US and Australia made major improvements when faulty vaccines caused disability and fatalities

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Officials from China’s food and drug administration carry out checks at a vaccines production facility. Photo: AFP
Zhuang Pinghuiin Beijing

Although vaccines are considered safe and effective and serious side effects are rare, there have been some major scandals across the world that have led to tougher regulation of vaccines.

CHINA

China, which has seen repeated vaccine scandals over the years, did not officially report any victims of faulty vaccines. In 2013 following the deaths of 17 babies who had been injected with a hepatitis B vaccine, the manufacturer, Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products, was ordered to halt production. The conclusion was then reached that none of the deaths was related to the vaccine.

Public confidence in vaccines plummeted in March 2016 after a scandal revealed vaccines worth 570 million yuan (US$83.4 million) had been improperly stored and sold to 24 provinces since 2011.

There was no record of there being any victims of that scandal and a later investigation found that in terms of effectiveness these vaccines were up to standard.

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