Alberto Martínez announces 21 measures and a digital card for expired vaccines

The Basque Government's Health Adviser, Alberto Martínez, has appeared at his own request before the Health Committee ofthe Basque Parliament to report on the management of expired vaccines and to present a package of 21 measures to strengthen the safety of the vaccination programme in the Basque Country.

Martinez admits that the  error should not have occurred, but stresses that , according to reports from the scientific authorities consulted, it has had no clinical consequences for those affected. The incidence is on track, the families are informed and if necessary, the vaccines have been reinstated. 

The first cases were detected on 15 January at the Iztieta Health Centrein the OSI Donostialdea, from which point the Department activated an extraordinary review of all vaccines administered in 2025, with a total of 168,841 doses (except influenza and covid-19) in all Osakidetza organizations.

Following this study, it has been confirmed that 19 extinct vaccines have been administered, with a maximum of 137 potential cases. In the hexavalent vaccine, 253 cases were initially detected, of which 40 were registered errors and 40 were revaccinated. In tetrabalent and triple viral, of the 78 potential cases, 44 people were eventually revaccinated and 9 registration errors were identified.

The counsellor has explained that the ratio of expired doses in the Basque Country is lower than that described in the studies of the British public system, although she has argued that no errors can be naturalized and that the objective must be a system aimed at 'non-errors'.

Among the measures announced is the creation of a digital vaccination card for the entire population , integrated into the electronic medical history and available from the personal electronic folder. In addition, a real-time digital control system will be established to ascertain the traceability of each dose and the stock status of health centres.

The plan includes measures such as the integration of the Statedrug verification system  at all vaccination points, automatic alarms for expired batches, a common stock review protocol, random checks at centres and a double verification system for different personnel, along with continuous training and regular drills.

The department will allocate EUR 1.5 million  in 2026 to improve the digital modernization, organization and training of the system. Martinez has appreciated the work of Osakidetza professionals and the collaboration of families and has ensured that it is committed to strengthening security and maintaining public confidence in the vaccination programme.