The Directorate of Health Affairs in Madinah has requested the Ministry of Health to provide additional tuberculosis (TB) vaccine for newborn babies to meet the shortage in the region. Khalid Al-Harbi, assistant director general of the Directorate of Health Affairs in Madinah, said: “All the health centers that require the vaccine should contact the directorate at a later date, once supplies are available.”

He noted that immunization against TB can be postponed and taken at a later stage.

Al-Harbi said that about 35,000 children are vaccinated for TB in Madinah region per year, with all babies in government hospitals receiving the vaccine soon after birth. Babies born in private hospitals receive the vaccine at health centers within a specified number of days after birth. New centers to administer the vaccine have been opened in Qubaa, Al-Aziziyah, Al-Naser, Al-Jarf, Al-Owali, Al-Salam, East Al-Hurra and West Al-Hurra.

Meanwhile, a working team from the Ministry of Health has been dealing with the vaccine shortage at government hospitals over the past few months, which was caused by the ministry halting the contract with the vaccine production company for BCG.