Another medical scandal hits China after 29 children given wrong vaccine

China has been hit by another medical scandal after 29 children were given the wrong vaccine in the city of Shijiazhuang in Hebei province. A nurse at the Huitong community health service centre has been detained for allegedly giving the children Haemophilus b conjugate vaccine Act-HIB as a pentavalent vaccine, or 5-in-1 vaccine, for personal gain, the provincial government said.

The price of the pentavalent vaccine is reportedly 600 yuan ($89) while that of Act-HIB vaccine is about 100 yuan. The Qiaoxi health authority has cancelled the business license of the Huitong community health service centre and doctor's license of the centre's head. Local authorities will give the 29 children the right vaccine, the Global Times quoted a government statement as saying. Taking Act-HIB as the pentavalent vaccine will not harm the children's health, the Qiaoxi health authority announced last week, one day after a local woman revealed the case on Sina Weibo, which sparked public attention.

Two local health officials were also removed in the matter, according to the Global Times. The case is the latest vaccine issue which has sparked public concern in China since the Changchun Changsheng incident. Changchun Changsheng Biotechnology, one of China's biggest vaccine makers, produced 252,600 sub-standard human rabies vaccine and fake production records in July 2018. The revelation triggered a massive public outcry. More than 80 officials were removed or charged for the incident, the China Central Television reported.

(With inputs from agencies.)