Chinese families who say they were affected by tainted vaccines have called on the government to take steps to help them, saying they were unable to obtain compensation for their health problems. Around ten families held a press conference in Beijing with Hong Kong media, despite attempts from authorities to silence them.

According to a 2010 notice issued by the health ministry, only experts recognised by the authorities may diagnose abnormal reactions to vaccines. Medical institutions and individual practitioners must not provide diagnoses. The families said that because of the rule, doctors are unwilling to diagnose whether their illnesses were caused by problematic vaccines, meaning that they are unable to receive help from the government…

The families also called for the government to set up an independent body to evaluate their cases…A major scandal revealed in March of last year caused widespread anger in China and rocked public confidence in the healthcare system. It also brought about a crackdown on vaccine makers, wholesalers and buyers…

The mother Pang Hongwei and her daughter Sun Qi were jailed in January for 19 years and six years respectively. Authorities also dismissed or demoted 357 officials and arrested 202 suspects for their involvement in the scandal…