Childhood vaccine rises in Hong Kong after scandal in China

A nurse looks for vaccines in a private refrigerator Clinics of Hong Kong said to have seen an increase in demand for children's vaccines on Tuesday after a security scandal shook mainland China

The crisis comes from falsified production data of a rabies inoculation by an important manufacturer from mainland China.

But vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, given to babies and infants, have also been shown to be of poor quality, with doses already sold and administered.

The scandal rises raises questions about the security of all China. the vaccine industry and led some parents to seek treatment in Hong Kong semi-autonomous.

The city already has a reputation for having safer drugs than mainland China and has seen its products rush into the past after healing. A private Hong Kong clinic in Tsim Sha Tsui Mall said it received hundreds of calls and messages, about six times the normal rate of investigations, since the scandal broke out during the weekend. 19659009] Director Jacky Ho called the request "explosive", saying that it was mainly mainland relatives who were seeking vaccines imported from countries other than China. "The nearest place to receive vaccines is Hong Kong" Ho, who added the clinic's vaccinations, comes from England, France and the United States.

A woman who gave her name to Ms. Yin, from Shenzhen in southern mainland China, said she had brought her two-year-old son. "We are concerned about the quality of domestic vaccines," said Yin, who said he spent $ 5,000 HK ($ 640) for vaccinations: PCV13 that protects against pneumococcal bacteria, Japanese encephalitis, and ACWY

She said that she had made an appointment for PCV13 jab before the crisis broke out, but had added the other inoculations for the good measure after hearing of the scandal.

Another man from Guangdong in southern China who gave his last name Chan said that he had brought his one-year-old son to a private clinic in the same area for Inoculation of PCV13 after making an appointment two months ago

"Now I am very lucky Hong Kong Sanatorium said it saw an increase in inquiries and contacted suppliers to ensure" a Stable supply of vaccines to meet the needs of patients in the coming days, "he added.In a statement to AFP, the Hong Kong Health Department said it would closely monitor supply of vaccines in the areas of public and private health, but that he considered it "stable" for the time being.

Scarlett Pong, President of the City "There are agents who help them make an appointment and who know where to get in training like what doctor to use, "she told AFP.