No immunity for vaccine profiteers

ON SATURDAY, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the nation's top legislature, adopted the country's first national law on vaccine management, which will come into effect on Dec 1. China Daily writer Zhang Zhouxiang comments:

According to the new law, any individual or company found selling substandard or junk vaccine will face a fine that can be up to 50 times the amount of the sales volume. If the sales volume is lower than 500,000 yuan ($73,063), the fine will be calculated on the basis of it being 500,000 yuan.

Further, the company and the individuals responsible for selling substandard or junk vaccines will face a life ban on involvement in any medicine business, plus detainment of five to 15 days. If their actions violate the criminal law, the individuals responsible might face criminal charges besides the above-mentioned ones.