2,600,000 polio vaccines spoiled in Algeria

About 2,600,000 polio vaccines were spoiled on the Pasteur Institute in Kouba in Algiers due to electrical damage at a number of fridges.

The spoiled vaccines value is estimated at around 5 billion centimes. Algeria has experienced a shortage in vaccines for the last few months. Yet, the Algerian health ministry was informed of the half of the damage only, according to sources.

This economic loss is due to the governing policy which marginalized most of the competences and replaced them by inexperienced people.  

According to the same sources, the ministry is informed of the damage of 100,000 vaccines only.

Experts warn against refreezing and distributing damaged vaccines. This situation deprives children of polio vaccination.