Prosecuting authorities in China approved the arrest of 125 people suspected of involvement in a vaccine scandal worth 570 million yuan ($88 million) on Thursday.

Another 37 suspects have been put under investigation for suspected duty-related crimes, the Supreme People's Procuratorate said on Friday.

The vaccines involved in the case were sold by a mother and daughter in Shandong province to more than 20 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities since 2011. The duo did not store the vaccines under proper temperature thus making them less effective.

Following media exposure of the incident in February, the government set up a special team in March comprising different ministries and the Supreme People's Procuratorate to investigate the case.