We continue with the ideas and returns of vaccines in Spain, but this time with apparent good news. After a long period of shortage in which the Bexsero vaccine arrived with droppers at the pharmacies and the waiting lists were swollen, the Ministry of Health has announced that from today the supply of the meningitis B vaccine in pharmacies is restored. Several lots will be available that involve a total of 230,000 new doses.
Although the vaccine is not included in the common schedule of childhood vaccination of the National Health System (only for specific risk groups), parents who want to vaccinate their children can buy it in pharmacies since 2015 for 106 euros for each dose ( an unaffordable cost for many families).
Not enough doses?
The only vaccine authorized in Spain against meningococcus B is the Bexsero, manufactured by the pharmaceutical GSK. Since its production process is long and the supply to countries where the vaccine is included in the official vaccination schedule such as Italy or the United Kingdom is prioritized, the doses that arrive in Spain are insufficient.
Despite the news of the refueling, supply could be insufficient taking into account the waiting lists maintained by pharmacies to access the product, in some cases of half a year. If you do not get all the necessary doses, here we explained what to do if you get only one dose.
Meningococcal type B disease is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis and is responsible for seven out of ten cases of meningitis in Spain. According to the AEP, it affects between 400 and 600 people each year, 10 percent with fatal consequences, and about 30% are left with neurological sequelae.
A reassuring fact is that in the last ten years the incidence of the disease has been decreasing. However, it is not ruled out that in the future there may be a new epidemic rebound.
It will be necessary to see if with this new supply of the vaccine the pharmacies of the country will cover the expected demand or if it will disappear again.
