China vax scandal intensifies

July 23, 2018

After a second scandal over substandard vaccines from Changchun Changsheng Biotechnology, the Chinese public is voicing its outrage.

The China FDA halted production of freeze-dried rabies vaccines for human use at Changchun Changsheng after finding fabricated records and other problems during an inspection. The CFDA has revoked the company’s certificate needed for production and sales of the vaccine.

The drugmaker had already halted production of another vaccine — for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis — which regulators found last year to be sub-standard after the company had sold more than 250,000 doses. 

The public took to social media to voice their outrage, with anger aimed at the drugmaker as well as China’s regulatory and political leaders.

Chinese censors sprung into action, deleting articles and postings about the vaccine industry.

Read the Financial Times coverage