The Basque Country administers expired vaccines to 253 people, mostly babies

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, Osakidetza, after EH Bildu reported the case. However, the Basque Government has assured that the error "does not pose any health risks or adverse effects." The vaccine in question is a hexavalent vaccine, administered to combat diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, and hepatitis B, and the doses administered belonged to a batch "whose expiration date had recently passed." "Public Health wishes to convey a message of reassurance, given that, according to experts, no adverse effects are anticipated from the administration of these doses. All cases are under control, and the recommendations of expert public health bodies are being followed," the Basque Health Service emphasized. The Basque Government assures that each and every case is "perfectly identified" and is contacting the families to inform them directly and offer the necessary guidance. Osakidetza (the Basque Health Service) has consulted the case with various authorities, such as the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) and the Basque Country Vaccine Advisory Council (CAVE), as well as the manufacturer of the expired batch.

They are demanding explanations

EH Bildu, which uncovered the case, submitted a parliamentary motion to the Minister of Health, Alberto Martínez, demanding explanations. The party asserted that in some cases, a second, also expired, dose was administered and accused Osakidetza (the Basque Health Service) of failing to "track the expiration dates of the vaccines" and "not complying with established procedures and protocols." EH Bildu deputy Rebeka Ubera, who signed the motion, maintained that the affected children "are unprotected against these six diseases, which can be serious," since the vaccines they received do not protect them. She also asked the Minister of Health about the number of affected children and whether their families were alerted to the situation, among other questions.