Spain launches probe as expired vaccines given to 253 children

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by Al Jazeera StaffJanuary 29, 2026 at 05:13 PM

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In January 2026, health authorities in Spain's Basque Country launched an investigation after 253 patients, mostly children, received expired doses of the hexavalent vaccine, which protects against six diseases. Osakidetza, the Basque public health service, discovered the issue on January 15th and began contacting affected families. The Basque Health Minister, Alberto Martinez, apologized for the "serious" lapse, stating that consultations with medical agencies and the vaccine manufacturer concluded that the expired doses pose no health risks. An internal investigation has been initiated to determine where the error occurred in the supply chain and to prevent future incidents. While the Basque Country manages its own health policy, the central Spanish government maintains oversight on medicines and health standards.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

India 30% Somalia 30% World Health Organization 35% AEMPS ×265% Alberto Martinez ×270% Osakidetza ×275% Basque Country ×385% Spain ×290%

Keywords

expired vaccines 100% vaccine administration 70% children 60% public health 60% investigation 60% basque country 50% health risk 50% hexavalent vaccine 50% health policy 40%