NPC Bimonthly Session: Draft of new vaccine law calls for strict supervision system

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A new draft law that aims to intensify vaccine management is under review. The National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee continues to debate the suggested measures. CGTN's Hou Na shows us what's being discussed.

Never has China acted with more urgency in improving the safety of vaccines. The scandal involving major vaccine producer, Changchun Changsheng Biotech in Jilin province, recently outraged the nation. Law makers are on the case, drafting a new law.

CHEN ZHU, MEMBER NPC STANDING COMMITTEE "The law aims to reform and improve the country's vaccine management system and further expand the national immunization drive to effectively protect people from infectious diseases."

The draft says producers must use digital means to record data concerning production and inspection of vaccines, and ensure authenticity, integrity and tractability of this data. Approval procedures and inspections must cover every batch of vaccines before they hit the market.

Health and drug authorities are now asked to supervise the whole chain of vaccines, covering their research and development, production, circulation and use. Meanwhile, drug authorities are expected to intensify site inspection of vaccine production and dispatch inspectors to vaccine producers.

HOU NA GREAT HALL OF PEOPLE, BEIJING "The draft imposes the strictest supervision system on vaccines. It says serious law violators, such as those producing fake or substandard vaccines, will receive harsher penalties. During the discussion, law makers say that the key is implementation and the country should establish a unified national compensation standard."

LI WEI, MEMBER NPC STANDING COMMITTEE "I suggest we establish a national compensation standard instead of local standards when it comes to compensation to the victims of illegal vaccines. This will avoid lawsuits caused by different standards."

In addition to harsher penalties for extreme violations, senior executives and others involved will see salary deductions related to the violations, and pay fines. They also may be banned for life from engaging in the pharmaceutical business. More details are up for debate by law makers before the draft becomes law. HOU NA, CGTN. BEIJING.