Fake vaccines pinprick confidence in Chinese jabs

The confiscation of thousands of counterfeit Covid-19 vaccines in China has sparked new skepticism about local supplies and threatens to raise global doubts about the reliability of Chinese made doses.

Police have made at least 80 arrests in Beijing and in the eastern Shandong and Jiangsu provinces this week in a spreading scandal that harks uncomfortably to previous issues over counterfeit and dangerous locally-made products. 

State media has predictably sought to downplay the scandal, giving scant details in their cursory reports about ongoing investigations and on how widely bogus shots are being circulated and administered. The reports have not mentioned if any officials in charge of drug development and supervision are responsible or will be sacked. 

However, Beijing is rushing to reassure foreign nations that have ordered its approved Sinopharm and Sinovac-made vaccines that the spiraling scandal will not affect exported doses. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin, in response to questions by foreign correspondents, said on Tuesday that Beijing had “notified relevant countries about the ongoing probe” and that more details would be shared. 

Wang did not specify which countries had already been notified. But his remarks have caused some Chinese to wonder if Beijing is more forthcoming about the scandal with foreign recipient countries than with its own people. That’s adding to official transparency concerns as Beijing rolls out its inoculation programs with locally-made drugs.