China is engulfed in a massive public health scare after a pharmaceutical company reportedly produced low-quality vaccines for babies, and fabricated data for a rabies vaccine.
According to state media reports, five senior executives from the company, including its chair, have been taken into custody as government authorities carry out an investigation. There's no evidence of people being harmed from the vaccines.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is currently on a tour through several African countries, described the scandal as “vile and shocking,” and ordered government agencies to conduct thorough investigations as well as respond to the concerns from worried citizens.
“Ensuring drug safety is the top priority for government and party officials at all levels,” said President Xi through a post on the popular microblog site Weibo. “We should prioritize Chinese citizens’ health and establish a comprehensive national vaccine management mechanism.”