jordan pulse -
In a startling revelation, an official report accessed by Ram News Agency has uncovered that a significant quantity of seasonal flu vaccines, amounting to 78,000 doses, was found during a surprise inspection at the Directorate of Serums and Vaccines’ warehouse in Shafa Badran on May 16, 2022. These doses, dating back to the beginning of October 2021, were part of a central purchasing committee’s decision referenced as (2021/310/1).
The report further detailed that the Ministry of Health had issued a directive, under the document number (M A 5 / Influenza / 1337) dated October 4, 2021, to procure an additional 170,000 doses to be delivered within the same month. However, a subsequent tender for 70,000 doses, valued at 372,120 Dinars, was awarded on November 30, 2021, with the entire quantity supplied by December 13, 2021, contrary to the Health Minister’s order and the World Health Organization’s epidemiologist’s recommendation to administer the vaccine in autumn before the flu season’s onset.
An internal memo numbered (S A /2021/199) dated November 8, 2021, sought the opinion of the Director of the Directorate of Serums and Vaccines regarding the vaccine’s efficacy post-flu season. The response indicated that the vaccine’s effectiveness concludes with the season’s end in February, rendering it unusable thereafter.
The report highlighted that the vaccine distribution from the warehouse was halted between January 13 and March 29, 2022. Subsequently, 1,510 doses were dispensed on March 30 and April 4, 2022.
As of the inspection date, the warehouse’s remaining stock stood at 55,990 doses, with a total value of 297,643 Dinars, representing 80% of the tender’s value. These doses, deemed seasonal, were rendered ineffective and expired by August 2022, leading to a substantial financial loss without any benefit from their use.