As China comes to grips with fallout from its vaccine scandal, the implications, if any, for the Chinese Australian community are yet to be assessed.
According to media reports 24 out of China's 34 provinces have been affected by the illegal operation which had distributed close to US$100 million worth of vaccines nationwide.
The operation, allegedly perpetrated by a former pharmacist and her medical graduate daughter, had been selling dodgy vaccines since at least 2011. Vaccines affected included those for polio, rabies, mumps, encephalitis, hepatitis B and meningococcal disease.
Angry Chinese citizens have taken to social media demanding more information and action on this latest Chinese health and safety scandal.
Parents with the resources to do so are buying imported vaccines or travelling to Hong Kong for their children to be vaccinated. In response Hong Kong has curbed vaccine access for mainlanders in order to ensure adequate supply for its residents.
Because the suspect products had been so widely distributed for so many years, recent Australian residents from China may well be among those affected. People who think they have protection against diseases such as hepatitis B may in fact not be protected.
Whether this needs to be addressed when discussing vaccination with the local Chinese community, is something that needs to be considered and evaluated together with community leaders and health professionals.
Update: Xinhua reported on 25 April 2016 that the Chinese government amended regulations and wholesalers are now banned from selling vaccines in China. An official statement said management of distribution channels and cold-chain storage will be improved and a national vaccine tracking system will be established. Read Xinhua report.
More details (should you run into paywalls, google "china vaccine scandal" or "baby vaccine scandal" and the name of the media outlet)
BBC 21 March BBC 23 March SBS 23 March BBC 24 March BBC 25 March SBS 25 March
Financial Times The Straits Times The Star Online The Australian abcNews (US) Albany Daily Star
