The vaccination situation in the Basque Country (País Vasco) has drawn nationwide attention after it was revealed that hundreds of residents, including infants, received expired vaccine doses. For Spanish families, this is more than just an alarming signal—it’s a reason to question the reliability of the healthcare system and the oversight of medical safety procedures. The error in the vaccine supply and administration chain could undermine trust in public health institutions and raise a wave of questions about the transparency of service operations.
Regional authorities have acknowledged this is a serious failure that has affected 253 people. Most of them are under one year old, but some adults also received the expired vaccine. There is now a debate over whether revaccination should be carried out, especially for the youngest patients. The decision is complicated by differing expert opinions and conflicting official guidelines, while families are demanding clarity and safety assurances.
Event timeline
The problem began when, over several months, 12 out of 13 regional medical institutions administered vaccine doses whose expiration dates had already passed in November. Some were given in the last days before the expiry, but more than a hundred doses were administered after the official expiration date, up through mid-January. Infants aged two and four months, 11-year-old children, and five adults aged between 42 and 69 were among those who received the vaccine.
The vaccine in question is the so-called ‘hexavalent’ (hexavalente), designed to protect against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type B. It is usually administered in two stages: first to infants, then as a booster dose. In certain cases, the vaccine is also given to adults with weakened immune systems.
Internal failures
According to regional Health Minister Alberto Martínez, the incident was caused by numerous errors in the internal control system. Specifically, the expiration date of the batch of vaccines purchased two years ago was not checked. As a result, expired vaccines reached circulation and were used in various medical centers.
The internal investigation revealed that more than half of the doses were administered back in November, when the expiration date had just lapsed. The remainder were given in December and January, sparking particular concern among parents of young children. In total, 50 nurses who worked with these vaccines were implicated in the situation, as well as warehouse and distribution center staff.
Public reaction
The scandal came to light after the opposition party EH Bildu raised the issue in parliament and demanded an explanation from the health minister. Party representative Rebeka Ubera stated that the affected families still have not received clear information from medical institutions. Many parents are forced to contact healthcare organizations on their own to find out what to do next. Public dissatisfaction and a sense of uncertainty are growing.
In an interview with local television, Ubera emphasized that if not for the party’s intervention, the situation might have remained unnoticed for even longer. According to her, the lack of a unified position and clear instructions from the authorities only increases anxiety among families.
Next steps
The question of whether revaccination is necessary remains open. Initially, the regional vaccination council was inclined to recommend revaccinating everyone affected. However, a recent report by the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices advises against this for infants, suggesting that only five adults should be revaccinated.
The issue was reported by a nurse from the city of Errenteria (Gipuzkoa), which triggered an inspection of the entire vaccine supply and administration chain. Specialists are now analyzing exactly where the breakdown occurred, from the warehouse to the doctor’s office. The Minister of Health emphasizes that the vaccine manufacturer bears no responsibility for the incident, and all errors are due exclusively to internal processes.
Oversight and trust
Authorities have pledged a thorough investigation and promised measures to prevent such incidents from happening again. Minister Martínez acknowledges that human error played a crucial role: “Sometimes even doctors forget to check the expiration date, and this time the mistake turned out to be systemic.” Public attention has once again focused on trust in the healthcare system, while families await clear answers and safety assurances for their children.
