Worried parents turn to Hong Kong for safer shots for their kids amid the illegal vaccine scandal in the mainland. (Photo : Getty Images)
Worried parents are turning to Hong Kong for safer immunization shots for their children after a mother-daughter gang involved in the distribution of "problematic vaccines" was busted mid-March.
Chongqing resident Ran Jinfa was restless after he found out about the busted illegal vaccine gang because he wants to know if the shots given to his 2-year-old son were from the syndicate.
According to the Global Times, Ran spoke with the chief of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in the Yongchuan District and was guaranteed that the vaccine given to his son is safe since "no problematic vaccines have been found in the city."
However, despite assurances similar to this, parents are still not taking the risk of having their children immunized with vaccines in the mainland, which is why many are turning to more expensive shots in Hong Kong.
"Problematic Vaccine" Syndicate
In February, Shandong law enforcers revealed how they were able to capture a mother and a daughter who were accused of selling bad vaccines.
While the vaccines were made by legit manufacturers, authorities found out that they were either already expired, improperly stored, or are not transported according to approved safety regulations.
Furthermore, these vaccines were believed to be unsafe and might even cause severe side effects that include disability and death.
The duo allegedly sold these 570 million yuan ($88 million) worth of vaccines in more than 20 provinces in China since they began their operations in 2011, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
Last week, 37 more people were taken into custody for suspected connivance with the women.
At the same time, authorities revealed that the probe involved two immune globulin, one therapeutic product and 12 vaccines, raising worry and fear among Chinese parents on whether or not the shots given to their children are safe.
Worried Parents
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang promised in public that the government will show no leniency for anyone found to be linked to the illegal vaccine scandal, per a report from Women of China.
In fact, he pledged to punish all those who will be proven to have committed dereliction of duty in the distribution of the problematic vaccines.
Despite this, health authorities have yet to confirm that all problematic vaccines from the gang have already been cleared from the market.
Because of this, many Chinese parents are hesitant to bring their children for their vaccines as many of the immunizations supposed to ensure the wellness of their young ones may have been affected.
"This is such a huge case and not a single regulatory official has come out to apologize, not a single one has resigned . . . this system which doesn't care whether ordinary citizens live or die makes one's soul tired," a Sina Weibo user posted as quoted by BBC News.
Now, many of them have decided to turn to vaccines outside the mainland, particularly in Hong Kong where they feel that the shots are "safer" even if they are more expensive.
"There are many parents here like me. Even though some vaccines in Hong Kong are much more expensive than in the mainland," Yang, a Shenzhen resident and mother of a 4-year-old boy, told the Global Times.
