(Photo: People's Daily app)

China will strengthen management and supervision of vaccines to ensure their safety, Jiao Hong, head of the National Medical Products Administration, told a press conference on the sidelines of the annual legislative session on Monday.

Chinese lawmakers have finished their first reading of a draft law on vaccine management, and solicited public opinions, Jiao said.

China's vaccines are generally safe, Jiao said, adding that the development of a vaccine management mechanism with long-term effects is underway.

Vaccine-producing companies should build a sound quality management system and product safety tracing and risk reporting mechanisms.

Provincial drug regulators should enhance on-site checks on vaccine producers while the national administration will strengthen random checks, she said.

China will develop and train national and provincial professional inspectors to enhance supervision capabilities, she added.

(With input from Xinhua)