Police unearthed an organization that had been selling fake vaccines for hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis to hospitals, pharmacies and clinics for more than ten years.
The country’s Agency for Drug and Food Control is under fire after officials admitted they’ve known about the scandal since 2013. The issue was not addressed until a police investigation exposed the illegal business earlier this year, leading to 18 arrests.
The Indonesian president ordered an immediate restructure of the regulatory body. Investigators are also assessing hospital management practices, as in some cases hospital leaders signed for the purchases of the false drugs.
So far, officials have identified 37 healthcare facilities that received the fake vaccines. Parents have crowded the hospitals, demanding to know if their children received the fake vaccines.
Starting next week, parents can get their children re-vaccinated under a new government program. The fake vaccines have not been linked to any illnesses or death.
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