Chinese President Xi Jinping has described the country’s latest vaccine scandal as “appalling”, pledging a thorough investigation into China’s worst public health crisis in years.

中国主席习近平称，最近的疫苗丑闻“令人触目惊心”，他保证对这起数年来中国最严重的公共卫生危机展开彻底调查。

Taking time out from his trip to Africa, Xi said China was determined to clean up the scandal-ridden industry, ordering local authorities to conduct an investigation immediately and release the findings to the public “on time” to ensure social stability.

当前习近平正在访问非洲，他抽空表示，中国坚决清理这一涉及丑闻的行业，地方部门要立即展开调查，及时公布调查进展，确保社会稳定。

“The violations by Changchun Changsheng Bio-technology are serious and appalling,” state broadcaster CCTV quoted Xi as saying, as police in Changchun took the company’s chairwoman Gao Junfang and four senior executives away for questioning.

国家广播公司CCTV援引习近平的话报道：“长春长生生物科技有限责任公司违法违规生产疫苗行为，性质恶劣，令人触目惊心。”当前，长春警方已将该公司董事长高俊芳和其他四名高管带走询问。

Xi also ordered the authorities to use severe punishment “to cure the chronic disease [of corruption] and scratch poison from one’s bones”.

习近平还下令要求各部门“以猛药去疴、刮骨疗毒。”

He told the authorities to resolutely “improve the supervision of vaccines and guard the bottom line of safety in order to safeguard public interest and social security”.

他向各部门表示，“完善我国疫苗管理体制，坚决守住安全底线，全力保障群众切身利益和社会安全稳定大局。”