Henan vaccine rights activist He Fangmei, who fought for her daughter’s disabilities caused by vaccines, has been sentenced to 5 years and 6 months in prison. She is currently being held in custody in Xinxiang, Henan, where the prison has refused to accept her, and her health condition continues to deteriorate, sparking concern from the public.
He Fangmei is the founder of the rights group “Vaccine Baby Home.” Her daughter, Qiqi, was diagnosed with viral myelitis and paralyzed after receiving a DTP combination vaccine in 2018. He Fangmei believes her daughter’s condition is related to the quality of the vaccine, leading her to seek justice and advocate for vaccine safety legislation, resulting in harassment and multiple arrests.
In October 2020, He Fangmei and her husband, Li Xin, were arrested for protesting the authorities’ interference with bringing their disabled daughter to Beijing for treatment. They splashed paint in front of the government office in Huixian County, Henan.
Li Xin was sentenced to 5 years in prison and was released on October 13, 2025. A source familiar with the matter, Chen Yang, revealed that Li Xin immediately visited He Fangmei upon his release. The emotional reunion brought He Fangmei to tears as she dearly missed her children.
He Fangmei and Li Xin have a son and two daughters. Chen Yang disclosed that He Fangmei was pregnant when she was arrested and gave birth to their daughter while under surveillance at the Henan Xinxiang mental hospital. However, she was detained after the breastfeeding period. For over three years, she had not seen her children. “So when she saw photos of her children, she was emotional because she missed them greatly.”
He Fangmei remains in custody at the detention center. Li Xin learned during the visit that she works a night shift for 2 hours every day, causing varicose veins in her legs that make it difficult for her to stand. She requested better conditions, but Li Xin’s complaints to the prison director went unanswered. Chen Yang believes that the prison’s refusal to accept He Fangmei is to avoid trouble.
“The prison thinks there is a problem with the sentence, so they don’t take her in, which is strange. They also know she is a hot potato; if they take her in, the prison will become a hotspot and they don’t want to cause any trouble,” Chen Yang explained.
Attempts to contact the Xinxiang detention center by phone were unsuccessful.
Approximately a year after giving birth to their younger daughter, He Fangmei was transferred to the Xinxiang detention center. The two daughters remained at the Henan Xinxiang mental hospital, where they were almost sexually assaulted. Following strong demands from the family, the authorities transferred the children to another hospital for custody.
Chen Yang mentioned that the children were almost sexually assaulted and reported to the police, who did not take action. “They moved the children to another hospital, locked them in a room for nearly a year. It wasn’t until Li Xin was released and returned that the children were finally released.”
The three children have been under high pressure for a long time, causing both physical and mental trauma. Chen Yang noted that they lag slightly behind in development compared to their peers. Qiqi missed the optimal window for treatment, has not received rehabilitation therapy, her condition is deteriorating, and she has developed deformities, urinary and fecal incontinence, and constantly requires assistance.
Chen Yang stated that during their two meetings, He Fangmei expressed a strong desire for her children to receive normal treatment and education.
Chen Yang urged the public to pay attention to He Fangmei’s family and help them through this difficult time.