Lima, April 26 (Inditop.com/EFE) A box containing 1,000 doses of swine flu vaccine, which were to be used for vaccinating over three million Peruvian citizens, has been stolen in Lima, the health ministry has said.
The theft occurred Saturday, when the vehicle was transporting the vaccines to a warehouse.
The vaccine doses that were stolen were in multiple-dose containers, each bottle intended for several people and their incorrect use could cause adverse reactions, the ministry said Sunday.
“Being a new vaccine and a high-technology one, only people in the areas of immunization (within the ministry) have been trained to administer it,” it said.
Though the vaccine is available free of charge at state health centres and to police and armed forces, its sale is not authorized at clinics, pharmacies, doctors’ offices and elsewhere.
Peru registered 9,062 cases of swine flu and 203 deaths from the disease between May and December 2009.
