Vaccine Investigation

The Chinese Government has promised to establish a long-term institutional mechanism for safeguarding drug safety following the exposure of substandard vaccines made by a company in mid-july.

At a State Council Executive Meeting on July 30, an investigation team dispatched by the body reported its findings on the case of illegal production of rabies vaccines by Changsheng Life Sciences Ltd., which is located in Changchun, Jilin Province.

So far, the investigation has found evidence that the company, in producing rabies vaccines for human use, engaged in suspected criminal activities involving violations of approved production processes, the falsification of production and in- spection records and the destruction of evidence, which severely violate national drug standards and regulations.

The meeting called for expeditious steps to impose stronger punishment and heavier fines on the company and those held accountable for the case in accordance with the law. Suspected criminals will be handed over to judicial authorities for prosecution. Those who gravely violated the law will receive jail sentences, and will be driven out of the pharmaceutical business for life.

At the same time, the government will speed up its sweeping inspections and checks on all 46 vaccine producers across China.

The results will be made public in a timely fashion.

The meeting also called for a thorough investigation on possible