Vaccine scare-mongering risks epidemics
Updated: 2016-03-24 07:56
By Zhang Tiankan(China Daily)
|
|||||||||
A Chinese medical worker prepares to vaccinate a young kid at a hospital in Shanghai, China, March 20, 2016. [Photo/IC] |
One after another there have been postings on social media about the "dangers of vaccines" after a network illegally storing and selling vaccines was busted by the police. One of the most popular posts was one titled "Tragedies Caused by Vaccines", which blamed vaccine injections for the deaths and disabilities of 19 children, it was reposted many times accompanied by calls to "boycott vaccines".
What these posts will never tell you is that there is always a slight possibility that children will suffer an adverse reaction to a vaccine. Vaccines are inactivated pathogens, and they work by prompting the human immune system to produce antibodies to fight similar pathogens in the future. While most people do produce the desired antibodies after receiving a vaccine injection, a few, perhaps one in a million, will have adverse reactions because of their specific immunity conditions.
This is what the Japanese call "a demon draws lots", because although the possibility is low the unlucky person suffers a lot. Even if the vaccine is a genuine product, properly stored, there is always that possibility. Sometimes poor quality vaccines or irregular operation during their injection might cause adverse reactions, too, but the probability of that is also very low.
However, that's fundamentally different from the current vaccine scandal in which over 300 suspects sold more than 20,000 improperly acquired and stored vaccine shots, worth more 570 million yuan ($88 million), to health centers in 24 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions nationwide.
Vaccines must be kept at a temperature between 2 and 8 degrees Centigrade during storage and transportation, but the illegal dealers failed to do that; as a result, the vaccines they sell are no longer effective.
Those being injected with the vaccine will still get sick when infected with the pathogen the vaccine is supposed to protect against. This might have serious consequences, even cause fatalities, as the vaccines are for protection against serious diseases.
The authorities announced on Monday that those illegally selling the vaccine will be investigated and punished. But punishments should also be given to those in the health departments and the enforcers of the regulations that have failed in their duties, and the holes in the fences must be closed.
- Chinese drug regulator vows to fix vaccine distribution loopholes
- Stars call for thorough investigation into vaccine scandal
- Premier vows no leniency in vaccine scandal
- Chinese police arrest 37 over vaccine scandal
- Vaccine scandal investigators identify fraud wholesalers
- $88m vaccine sales case triggers probe
- Mother and daughter nabbed for selling illegal vaccine
- Former pharmacist and daughter arrested over illegal sale of vaccine
- Global health entering new era: WHO chief
- Brazil's planning minister steps aside after recordings revelation
- Vietnam, US adopt joint statement on advancing comprehensive partnership
- European border closures 'inhumane': UN refugee agency
- Japan's foreign minister calls A-bombings extremely regrettable
- Fukushima impact unprecedented for oceans: US expert
- Stars of Lijiang River: Elderly brothers with white beards
- Wealthy Chinese children paying money to learn British manners
- Military-style wedding: Fighter jets, grooms in dashing uniforms
- Striking photos around the world: May 16 - May 22
- Robots help elderly in nursing home in east China
- Hanging in the air: Chongqing holds rescue drill
- 2.1-ton tofu finishes in two hours in central China
- Six things you may not know about Grain Buds
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Anti-graft campaign targets poverty relief |
Cherry blossom signal arrival of spring |
In pictures: Destroying fake and shoddy products |
China's southernmost city to plant 500,000 trees |
Cavers make rare finds in Guangxi expedition |
Cutting hair for Longtaitou Festival |
Today's Top News
Liang avoids jail in shooting death
China's finance minister addresses ratings downgrade
Duke alumni visit Chinese Embassy
Marriott unlikely to top Anbang offer for Starwood: Observers
Chinese biopharma debuts on Nasdaq
What ends Jeb Bush's White House hopes
Investigation for Nicolas's campaign
Will US-ASEAN meeting be good for region?
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |