Vaccine Management: Legislators debate draft law on vaccine administration

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Chinese lawmakers are debating a draft law on vaccine administration. Producers and sellers of fake or substandard vaccines will be subject to heavier punishment, including increased fines. CGTN's Hou Na talks to lawmakers about their views.

The third reading of a new draft law and the toughest fines yet for offenders. Companies will face penalties of up to fifty times the value of the fake vaccines produced or sold, according to the latest draft. The previous draft, released in April, stipulated a fine of up to 30 times for such offenses.

WANG DONGMING, VICE-CHAIRMAN NPC STANDING COMMITTEE "The drafting of the law is in response to the public's call. It imposes harsher penalties on offenders. I vote in favor of passing the draft."

The vaccine administration law was drafted and submitted to the top legislature for first review in December. This followed a major vaccine scandal, involving Changchun's Changsheng Biotech Co, a major producer in Jilin province.

The new draft says executives and staff responsible for producing or selling fake vaccines will have their income during the period of legal violations confiscated. Additional fines of up to 10 times the income will be levied, the draft said.

They will also be banned from the drug business for life and will be subject to detention by police for up to 15 days. In addition, they could face criminal charges if they violate criminal law, according to the draft.

WEN XIULING NPC DEPUTY "The draft is a wake-up call for all vaccine producers. We should enhance all supporting measures to make sure it is implemented."

NPC Deputy Wen Xiuling runs a local hospital in Hebei Province. She says the administration of vaccine safety at the grassroots level is vital to people's health.

In addition to harsher punishment, the latest draft also includes amendments, such as allowing companies to authorize others to produce vaccines under approval by the National Medical Products Administration and improving transparency and public information about the vaccines to be sold.

The draft will be put to vote on Saturday. HOU NA, CGTN, BEIJING.