Faulty rabies shots row shakes China
Beijing, Aug. 10: With the recent faulty rabies vaccine scandal creating panic, China has launched a nationwide campaign to provide medical consultation and free inoculation of rabies vaccines.
Rabies vaccines made by the Changchun Changsheng Life Sciences Company, the second largest in China, were found to have violated national standards including usage of expired fluids and falsified production dates. The vaccines were also widely exported, including to India.
The Drug Controller General of India early this month ordered an immediate withdrawal of rabies vaccines from the market and also banned their imports from a Chinese manufacturer that allegedly fabricated records.
Health institutions and disease control centres across China are providing consultation services for people who received rabies vaccines made by the company, state- run Global Times reported on Friday.
China has designated 36,482 hospitals and health institutions for consultation, the report said.
No deaths from rabies have been reported among the patients who received the faulty vaccines, it said.
Investigators found Changchun Changsheng had violated rules on production management and national drug standards for the vaccines since April 2014, including the use of expired fluids and false production dates, the report said.
China’s National Health Commission and the State Drug Adminis- tration issued an inoculation plan for people who have received rabies vaccines from the company.