China Vaccine Scandal Worth $90 Million Results In 37 Arrests

Chinese officials arrested 37 people in connection with the illegal distribution of improperly stored vaccine that amounted to almost $90 million. The illegal vaccine ring allegedly involved hundreds of people across 24 provinces and cities as reported by local news media.

An update from Wall Street Journal stated that a total of 37 people have been arrested in an on-going investigation about the illegal distribution of potentially fatal vaccines across China. Apparently, this syndicate has been operating for five years.

Authorities only announced the news publicly last Friday and issued a statement for suppliers to come forward so they can trace potential victims. Currently, it has already identified nine drug wholesalers. They have set a deadline of March 25 to track down all the suppliers and buyers involved in the vaccine scandal.

Premier Li urges full investigation, prompt response to public concern after vaccine scandal https://t.co/ZtaSXxavrh pic.twitter.com/Y1dkfUCbOb

— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) March 23, 2016

The previous report from Time has stated that a former pharmacist and her daughter were caught red-handed in April last year; buying nearly-expired vaccines from licensed manufacturers for cheaper prices and resold those to illegal agents or different local health centers. The vaccines which include those for polio, rabies, mumps, encephalitis, hepatitis B, and meningococcal diseases, were said to be worth $88 million and were not refrigerated properly.

Local state media admitted that the improper storage of vaccines could be fatal. Over the weekend, authorities have publicized the names of 300 suppliers of the 47-year old woman was also convicted of the same offense in 2009 however only received a suspended sentence.

China's local news media, Xinhua News Agency, reported that these vaccines were mostly sold to rural clinics that were run by local governments. The news agency said that three pharmaceutical companies are currently investigated by the authorities with one of them ordered to stop operations.

Pharmaceutical companies that allegedly sold the vaccines to unlicensed sellers have been given administrative penalties while government clinics where vaccines were sold are under criminal investigations. China's vaccine scandal has gained worldwide attention as Chinese citizens took to social media to express their anger towards the apparent delay of the investigation.

On Monday, news of a boy who died after vaccination sparked the anger further although authorities have claimed there was no link between the vaccine scandal and the boy's death. The public remained skeptical. Check out report from CCTV about the vaccine scandal: