Controversies

Subsidiary Wuhan Institute of Biological Products' DTP vaccine fails potency test

The 201607050-2 batch of DTP vaccine produced in 2016 by Wuhan Institute of Biological Products under Sinopharm China National Biotec Group had substandard pertussis potency; a total of 400,520 doses were sold to Chongqing and Hebei CDC respectively; the cause was a short-term malfunction of filling equipment and improper handling. After the 2018 Changsheng vaccine incident, the State Council required the National Medical Products Administration, together with multiple departments, to go to Wuhan to verify and handle the matter, determining that the company's primary responsibility was not fulfilled and quality management was not strict. Unused vaccines were recalled and destroyed; Wuhan Institute of Biological Products had its illegal gains confiscated and was fined; China National Biotec Group held 9 responsible persons accountable (including removal from office and serious internal Party warnings); Hubei Province held 11 regulatory officials accountable and ordered correction of the issue of excessively light penalties.