Chinese authorities arrested 37 suspects and are investigating three pharmaceutical companies in connection with the deadly vaccine scandal that broke out on last Friday, state media reported.

Most arrests took place in eastern Chinese province of Shandong, including  a mother-daughter duo who were identified with their last name Pang. The duo is believed to be the kingpins of the vaccine trade ring. 

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Authorities also revoked the license of Shandong Zhaoxin Bio-tech Co (one of the three pharmaceutical companies under investigation) and identified nine vaccine wholesalers from six provinces for playing active roles in the racket.

According to Xinhua, the multi dollar vaccine scandal busted last week allegedly sold poor quality and unrefrigerated vaccines to several hospitals across China for many years. The inferior vaccines had the potential to cause severe disability to patients and could even lead to death.

Experts have already called this scandal as one of the biggest vaccine scandals in country's history with a value of millions of dollars. 

The deadly vaccine scandal has evoked strong remarks from Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang. The PM said the incident had exposed many serious regulatory loopholes and authorities will undertake thorough investigation into the matter.

Meanwhile, angry parents and doctors across China are demanding serious explanation from Chinese authorities. They are furious over the fact that $90 million of potentially fatal vaccines were allowed to be distributed across China for five years.            

The public have also taken to social media to vent their anger and frustration over the case. Several social media posts raised questions on how the older Pang was allowed to carry out the operation for all these years, after being convicted in the same case in 2009.    

According to Thepaper.com, the online news portal that first broke the story, in 2009 the elder Pang was sentenced to three years of imprisonment for illegally selling vaccines worth Rs five million Yuan. 

China's State Public Security Bureau has alleged that mother-daughter duo has making profit from vaccine trade ring since 2010.            

Tagsvaccine scandal