Expired Vaccines: Euskadi Baby Jab Error

BarcelonaUp to 253 people, mostly babies, have received an expired vaccine in Basque health centers. This was confirmed on Tuesday by the Basque Health Service, the Osakidetza, after EH Bildu reported the case. Of course, from the Basque Government they have assured that the error “does not involve any kind of health condition or adverse effect”. It is a hexavalent vaccine, which is administered to combat diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio and hepatitis B, and the doses administered belonged to a batch “whose expiration date had recently expired.”

“Public Health wants to convey a message of reassurance, given that, according to experts, no adverse effects are expected from the administration of these doses. All cases are under control and the recommendations of public health expert bodies are being followed,” remarked the Basque Health Service. The Basque Government assures that each and every one of the cases is “perfectly identified” and is contacting the families to inform them directly and offer the necessary instructions. The Osakidetza has consulted the case with different authorities, such as the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) and the Basque Vaccine Advisory Council (CAVE), in addition to the manufacturer of the expired batch.

They ask for explanations

EH Bildu, which uncovered the case, has registered a parliamentary initiative addressed to the Minister of Health, Alberto Martínez, and has demanded an explanation. The training has assured that in some cases a second dose has also been expired and has accused the Osakidetza of not “monitoring the traceability of the expiration of the vaccines”, as well as “not complying with the established procedures and protocols”. The deputy of EH Bildu Rebeka Ubera, signatory of the initiative, has maintained that the minors affected “are unprotected against these six diseases, which can become serious”, since the vaccines that have been administered to them do not protect them. He also asked the Minister of Health about the number of children affected and whether the families had been alerted to this situation, among other issues.