Lack of Vaccines Reported in Costa Rica

A two-month delay in the arrival of doses that are part of basic vaccination has about 12.000 children in Costa Rica with no immunization.



Maria Ethel Trejos, an official with the Caja Costarrisense de Seguro Social (CCSS) confirmed that the problem is attributed to a delay in the administrative process and the purchase by the Ministry of Health.

The shortfall is in the Tetravalent and Pentavalent vaccines, which protect against diseases like tetanus, polio, whooping cough, diphtheria and hepatitis B.

The vaccines are provided between the first months of baby's life and four years, she said, and added that the stock on hand is not enough and the new was supposed to have come in June and still no one knows when they will arrive.

However, Dinorah Garro, manager of Logistics Social Security Fund (CCSS), said that the doses of the Pentavalent were already acquired and the tetravalent vaccines will arrive on Thursday.