China Medical News

Premier Li Keqiang signed a decree on April 23 which has banned drug wholesalers from selling vaccines following a scandal in which millions of dollars' worth of improperly stored or expired vaccines has been sold to patients nationwide. With this decision, a vaccine tracking system will be set up in which virtually all vaccine circulation will occur under official arrangements, and enterprises and users will need to record information about the circulation and use of vaccines so that even the smallest vaccine package can be pinpointed anywhere in its entire life cycle.
Also, this decision will improve management of cold-chain storage and transportation, prohibiting vaccines from leaving the cold-chain system and requiring regular temperature monitoring. In addition, institutions and hospitals must request storage temperature records upon receiving vaccines, and needs to keep clear records of their purchases and received inventory.
The decision also heightened accountability. Fines for serious violators, such as those improperly storing and transporting vaccines, will be increased. Government officials will be required to resign from their jobs if they fail to perform their supervision duties well. (Source: Xinhua)