315 Shadow Investigation | Miao Sanduo Cat Vaccine Online Sales Chaos: Genuine Bottles with Counterfeit Products, Source Remains a Mystery

How AI · Fake vaccine scan verification can be cracked?

Pet owners originally wanted to save money by shopping online for vaccines, but this may put their pets at health risk—some cat vaccines sold on certain e-commerce platforms are becoming a major source of consumer complaints.

The “2026 China Pet Industry White Paper (Consumer Report)” shows that in 2025, the urban dog and cat population reached 126 million, including 72.89 million cats.

The demand for cat vaccines, as specialized products, is increasing daily. “Miao San Duo” (a combined inactivated vaccine for feline rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia) is among the earliest approved inactivated triple vaccines for cats in China and has long dominated the market, becoming a “must-have” product for many cat owners.

Investigation by The Paper found frequent consumer complaints about this vaccine, including scan codes showing “data frozen,” stores lacking veterinary drug licenses, pets experiencing severe discomfort after vaccination, and improper storage temperatures.

On March 5, “Miao San Duo” brand owner—Shuoteng (Shanghai) Enterprise Management Co., Ltd. (hereafter “Shuoteng”)—told The Paper in an interview that they have never authorized any e-commerce platform or online store to sell their vaccines. Any products sold through unauthorized channels (including mainstream e-commerce platforms) have uncertain sources and questionable cold chain compliance (2–8°C), posing quality and safety risks.

Shuoteng reminds that vaccination is a rigorous clinical medical procedure. Pet owners generally lack the professional skills for proper injection and emergency handling. They recommend choosing reputable veterinary clinics for vaccination and scanning codes to verify authenticity.

Vaccines sold on online platforms claiming to be from “imported” or “Pfizer USA” are also circulating.

Frequent complaints: severe discomfort after injection, scan code anomalies

Vaccinating cats helps prevent diseases like feline panleukopenia, calicivirus, and feline herpesvirus. Typical symptoms of feline panleukopenia include vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and loss of appetite, with a fatality rate exceeding 50%, making it the deadliest among these diseases.

On the Black Cat Complaint Platform, numerous complaints about “Miao San Duo” vaccines sold on Taobao, JD.com, Pinduoduo, and other platforms have been reported. Issues mainly involve doubts about authenticity, unlicensed stores, adverse reactions after using suspected counterfeit vaccines, and inadequate platform handling.

Consumer “Xingzi” (pseudonym) told The Paper that on September 20, 2025, he bought a “Miao San Duo” vaccine for 39 yuan from the Taobao store “Baojiaxian Pet Health.” After injection, he used a UV light to check the anti-counterfeit label and unexpectedly found no response. Scanning the QR code on the bottle showed incorrect digital information, while vaccines purchased elsewhere were normal.

After discovering the issue, Xingzi immediately provided the batch number to Shuoteng’s official customer service. A recording he provided shows Shuoteng confirmed the vaccine was fake. He then filed a complaint with the store’s customer service. The seller initially denied the vaccine was fake but later admitted there was a problem, claiming it was due to upstream wholesalers or system upgrades.

After long negotiations with the platform, the seller finally issued a refund. The Paper noted that the store has since taken down all products and closed.

Another consumer, Wu Juan (pseudonym), reported that on December 26, 2025, she bought two “Miao San Duo” vaccines from “Dr. Liu’s Veterinary Medicine” store on Pinduoduo for 61.18 yuan. The first order was delivered on December 31, 2025, but one of the vaccines was already checked on December 19. She immediately requested an exchange. The replacement vaccine arrived on January 10, and she completed the pet’s vaccination process, with both doses administered by February 7.

However, that evening, Wu Juan, after studying identification methods online and comparing multiple sources, suspected the vaccine was counterfeit: scanning the QR code on the packaging redirected to a non-official domain, with the real URL containing “veima,” while the fake URL had two extra "r"s and failed to load. The official platform could not recognize the code. Shuoteng’s official customer service later confirmed over the phone that the product was indeed counterfeit. Additionally, the physical appearance had multiple flaws—labels with mismatched details, and the batch code on the bottom of the bottle was incorrectly formatted.

Suspecting she had received a fake vaccine, Wu Juan was more worried about her pet’s health. Attempts to contact the seller went unanswered. She also found that the store had removed all listings shortly after the transaction. On March 6, The Paper checked the store link and found no products available. Attempts to contact the seller through business registration also failed.

Furthermore, many consumers reported serious adverse reactions in their cats after receiving what they believed to be counterfeit vaccines.

Huang Penghui, a veterinarian with 8 years of experience at a pet hospital in Fuzhou, Fujian, believes that the harm caused by fake vaccines depends largely on how “fake” they are. If they are just saline or other inert substances pretending to be vaccines, they are completely ineffective, and cats do not develop immunity, remaining vulnerable to deadly viruses like feline panleukopenia and herpesvirus. If the fake contains harmful or unknown ingredients, it can cause severe allergic reactions, directly harming the cat’s health.

In his medical practice, he has observed that most issues stem from improper transportation or storage, leading to reduced vaccine efficacy. “Owners may mistakenly think their cats are protected, but in fact, they become complacent, increasing the risk of exposure.”

The “Miao San Duo” vaccines purchased online had already thawed the ice packs.

Online testing: vaccine source unclear, cold chain hard to guarantee

On major e-commerce platforms, numerous “Miao San Duo” products can be found.

On Taobao, top-selling stores have over 100,000 buyers. On JD.com, more than 700 listings are available, with some stores selling over 100,000 units monthly.

In early March 2026, The Paper ordered “Miao San Duo” vaccines from Taobao, JD.com, and Pinduoduo. All three products looked identical: sealed plastic bottles with blue caps, printed with Shuoteng’s logo and the Chinese name “Miao San Duo,” and marked “for use only under veterinary guidance.”

The Taobao order (from “Meowle Ge Pet Medicine”) was shipped via Zhongtong cold chain, with foam boxes containing syringes, biological ice packs, and pet health immunization certificates. The vaccine liquid was pink.

When received, the ice packs had already melted. The small card inside the foam box stated that melting ice packs are normal, and the vaccine’s optimal storage temperature is 2–8°C. It also claimed that even if the ice packs melt, the vaccine does not immediately become invalid, as 2–8°C is meant to ensure a two-year shelf life.

The JD order (from “Yuanmu Biotechnology”) was shipped via SF Express cold chain, with ice packs and syringes included.

The store’s customer service claimed that vaccines exceeding the temperature range would not become invalid.

Regarding the melted ice packs, the customer service explained that they melt gradually during transit. They also said that inactivated vaccines are generally not affected by short-term high temperatures, and storing in the upper refrigerator shelf can keep the vaccine until October 2026.

The Pinduoduo order (from “Liangqi Jia Pet Life”) used Yunda Express, with foam packaging and a bag of ice packs inside. When asked whether the vaccine would become ineffective if not stored within the proper temperature, the seller replied: “Although the storage temperature is 2–8°C, exceeding this range does not cause immediate failure; higher temperatures only shorten shelf life. It’s fine for a few days on the road.”

All three vaccines, when scanned via the outer packaging, showed Shuoteng’s product verification page, including product name, veterinary drug registration number, manufacturer, and digital query code. The verification pages appeared normal at first glance.

Does this mean all online-sold vaccines are genuine? Shuoteng’s relevant manager said that if “Miao San Duo” vaccines are sold directly online to consumers without authorization, they are not approved by Shuoteng. However, this does not mean all online “Miao San Duo” vaccines are fake. Some may be genuine vaccines circulating through unofficial channels, such as pet clinics selling them independently.

The manager explained that Shuoteng’s “Miao San Duo” vaccines are only supplied through authorized distributors and reputable veterinary clinics. Currently, no systemic quality issues have been found with vaccines administered through official channels. Any products sold through unauthorized channels (including mainstream e-commerce platforms) have uncertain sources and questionable cold chain compliance, posing safety risks and cannot be guaranteed as genuine.

Regarding claims that “vaccines exceeding temperature limits are still effective,” the manager emphasized that vaccines are biological products with strict storage requirements. For “Miao San Duo,” the storage temperature must be maintained between 2–8°C. If the cold chain is broken during transport or storage—below 2°C or above 8°C—the vaccine’s immunogenicity may decline or be lost, increasing the risk of adverse reactions. Ordinary courier transport makes temperature control difficult, and consumers cannot easily verify whether the cold chain was maintained throughout.

“Vaccination itself is a serious clinical procedure. Pet owners usually lack the professional skills for proper injection and emergency handling,” the manager warned. They recommend choosing reputable veterinary clinics for vaccination and scanning codes to verify authenticity, which helps ensure the vaccine’s source, cold chain, and proper administration, and allows prompt professional assistance if adverse reactions occur.

Fake query websites and genuine official query sites differ mainly by an extra “r” in the URL.

Diverse fake methods: high-fidelity websites, genuine bottles with counterfeit vaccines, and other fake veterinary drugs

Shuoteng’s manager told The Paper that, based on current intelligence, counterfeit vaccines use various methods, including forging scan code query websites. Fakers often create “high-fidelity packaging” combined with “counterfeit query pages,” and frequently alter URLs or characters to confuse consumers, achieving a convincing illusion.

Some counterfeiters also imitate genuine packaging and labels. The manager said that if a scan code is used multiple times (e.g., multiple queries, queries from different locations, or repeated scans), it is highly suspicious. Consumers should stop using the product immediately and keep evidence.

The Paper observed that many stores on e-commerce platforms promote “American imported Miao San Duo” vaccines. Shuoteng’s manager explained that all Shuoteng “Miao San Duo” products sold in China are produced by Shuoteng Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. The “Miao San Duo” vaccines produced in the U.S. as of September 2025 have expired. Any “U.S.-made” vaccines within the validity period are counterfeit.

The manager added that upon receiving credible clues, they will initiate internal investigations and cooperate with agricultural law enforcement, market regulators, and police, including providing evidence, assisting with product authenticity verification, and cracking down on counterfeit activities. In recent years, Shuoteng has conducted joint operations with police and regulatory agencies nationwide, arresting suspects and seizing large quantities of counterfeit vaccines.

In September 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs responded to a CPPCC member’s suggestion on its official website, stating that online veterinary drug sales must comply with the “Veterinary Drug Administration Regulations,” including obtaining the necessary licenses (“Veterinary Drug Business License” or “Veterinary Drug Production License”) and operating within the scope of approval. These licenses must be prominently displayed in online stores.

The Ministry also emphasized platform responsibilities, organizing self-inspections on qualifications, sales practices, and advertising. Many illegal or unlicensed stores have been shut down. The State Administration for Market Regulation continues to crack down on illegal operations, false licensing, and unauthorized online stores.

The Ministry requires platforms to strengthen internal management, improve veterinary drug databases, and support licensing, traceability, and information queries. Provincial authorities are instructed to report illegal activities promptly. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is reforming access systems and enhancing regulatory measures.

The Shuoteng manager said that during police investigations, they found counterfeit “Miao San Duo” vaccines and other imported and domestic vaccine brands, as well as various fake veterinary drugs. Consumers should choose reputable veterinary clinics, avoid buying loose or “scraped” veterinary drugs, scan QR codes to verify authenticity, and minimize risks to their pets’ health and safety.

The manager also stated that they will continue to cooperate with local authorities and law enforcement to target counterfeit production and illegal online sales, and will work with major e-commerce platforms to remove unauthorized and unlicensed stores regularly.

On March 13, representatives from Taobao Tmall, Pinduoduo, and other platforms told The Paper that sellers must upload veterinary drug licenses or production permits, and their scope must include biological products. Selling veterinary vaccines requires proper qualification verification.

Regarding daily supervision, Taobao Tmall said they strictly follow national laws, explicitly prohibit illegal sales of pet vaccines, and have strict vet qualification checks, risk models, manual inspections, and routine patrols.

Pinduoduo stated that unlicensed veterinary vaccine products are subject to removal and store restrictions. For “Miao San Duo,” the platform actively manages and removes risky products through technology and manual checks, paying close attention to consumer feedback and handling violations accordingly.