Arturo Sánchez and Néstor Jiménez
La Jornada newspaper
Wednesday, July 30, 2025, p. 4
The Secretary of Health, David Kershenobich, acknowledged yesterday that Mexico faces a delay in the availability of the BCG vaccine, used to protect newborns against tuberculosis, but assured that the situation is already in a process of solution and that there is no risk for children.
Kershenobich explained that the main international supplier of this vaccine changed the production plant in India, which caused a delay in distribution to various countries, including Australia, China and Mexico.
It has been delayed two months. We already have 3 million 400 thousand BCG vaccines currently in the Federal Commission for Protection against Health Risks so that they can be released. Change production changed the sanitary record
he said.
The official explained that this change of location forced to process a new sanitary registry, a process that takes an average of four weeks. Once completed, the doses will be available for immediate application. We are trying to get rid sooner. I hope we have it ready in four weeks
said.
The BCG is recommended at birth, but, according to the secretary, it can be applied up to four years without endangering the protection of minors. Children are not at risk because they can be vaccinated from zero to four years
he stressed.
Kershenobich said that with the available doses – sufficient for two years of child vaccination – national coverage will be guaranteed once the lot is released. He confirmed that the delay is a global phenomenon due to the high demand for the vaccine and the production adjustments.
Measles, content
The secretary added that the measles outbreak registered in the country It is containing well. Our goal is to try that, for the month of November, we do not have measles cases
.
He mentioned that the outbreak is concentrated in Chihuahua and has been contained in other states. In addition, to date about 3,500 cases have been detected, with a total of 12 deaths.
