Gardasil 9 HPV Vaccine Launches New Packaging with Traceability Code and Heat Indicator in Mainland China

Pharmaceutical Network, June 14 – Recently, reporters from The Paper learned that the mainland China version of the nine-valent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine (commonly known as the "cervical cancer vaccine"), produced by MSD, has officially undergone packaging changes. The new packaging includes a drug traceability code and a heat-stable label. Consumers can verify the authenticity of the vaccine by scanning the code, while the heat-stable label allows them to determine whether the vaccine has been exposed to high temperatures during transportation or storage, which could render it ineffective.

 

Since the beginning of this year, incidents involving counterfeit cervical cancer vaccines and parallel-imported vaccines have successively erupted in Hainan and Hong Kong. In late April, Boao Yinfeng in HainanHospitalExposed for administering to 38 individualsFemaleConsumers received questionable vaccines suspected to originate from counterfeit workshops. In May, Hong Kong media further exposed that some local clinics had administered smuggled nine-valent HPV vaccines of unknown origin to mainland Chinese tourists.

 

20 Drug Traceability Codes for the New Packaging of the 9-Valent HPV Vaccine

 

Previously, the nine-valent HPV vaccine for cervical cancer was not included in mainland China’sPharmaceuticalsTraceability Code System: Consumers are often unable to independently verify the authenticity of vaccines. Furthermore, since vaccines distributed in mainland China use the same packaging as those in the Hong Kong region, consumers cannot determine from the packaging alone whether they have received “gray market” vaccines sourced through smuggling channels.

 

Reporters from The Paper (www.thepaper.cn) noted that on the packaging of the new version of the nine-valent vaccine, the brand name has changed from the Hong Kong traditional Chinese character "Gardasil 9" to the mainland registered name "Jiada Xiu 9". On the back of the box is a 20-digit drug traceability code. By using Alipay's "Vaccine Quick Check" program on your phone, you can verify its authenticity and also see how many times this barcode has been queried, preventing counterfeit vaccine manufacturers from reusing genuine vaccine packaging barcodes.

 

In addition, the mainland China version of the packaging now includes a vaccine vial monitor (VVM). This is a coin-shaped label with a purple outer ring and a white inner square. As the storage temperature of the vaccine increases, the white square gradually darkens until it turns purple, matching or exceeding the shade of the outer ring. When the color of the inner square matches or becomes darker than that of the outer ring, it indicates that the vaccine has been compromised and must be discarded.

 

According to vaccine expert Tao Lina, the nine-valent HPV vaccine requires cold-chain transportation; however, it exhibits high thermal stability and can generally remain stable for at least seven days even when stored at 37°C.