4 detained over vaccine irregularities
Print Edition
FOUR community health workers in southwest China’s Chongqing City have been detained over alleged violations of immunization regulations that came to light during an investigation into the suspected use of unsafe vaccines.
The four, including a nurse surnamed Peng, at a community health service center affiliated with Chongqing No. 6 People’s Hospital, were suspected of lying about inventories and immunization records as well as their failure to invoice patients, an initial investigation found.
Suspicions were aroused on May 13 when a mother surnamed Wu claimed she took her baby to be vaccinated, but Peng replaced a blue glass syringe, packaged along with vaccine vials, with a white plastic one. She suspected the vials were also replaced, according to China National Radio.
Later, more parents who suspected their children had been given fake vaccines came forward. They accused the center of forging their signatures and not recording information such as the batch numbers and manufacturers’ names in the immunization records, CNR reported.
The vaccine, used on babies aged from 2 to 18 months, protects against whooping cough, diphtheritis, tetanus, polio and Haemophilus influenzae type B. It isn’t included in China’s compulsory immunization program and must be paid for by the child’s parents.
An initial investigation concluded that Peng accidentally contaminated the syringe and replaced it with a sterile one, local news portal www.cqnews.net reported.
However, the four health workers were found to have violated immunization policy by using their positions for personal profit.
No further details were given as an investigation is under way, it reported.
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