In the Podkarpacie region, children aged three months to two years were vaccinated with Pentaxim that had expired by March 2025, prompting a criminal investigation by the Kolbuszowa prosecutor’s office.
Expired Vaccine Administered to Children
During a routine Sanepid inspection, authorities discovered that the Pentaxim vaccine, valid until the end of March 2025, had been administered between April 1 and June 18. Four children between three months and two years old across two clinics received the expired shots.
No Adverse Reactions, No Panic
Ryszard Stec, head of a local clinic, said parents were not notified at the time and no adverse vaccine reactions had been reported, so there was no desire to cause alarm.
Sanepid’s Transfer Protocol
Elżbieta Wójcik, supervisor of the Sanepid Kolbuszowa branch, explained that vaccines are collected with expiry checks and lot numbers. Once transferred, the receiving clinic assumes responsibility for proper storage and compliance with expiry dates.
Prosecution Under Investigation
The Kolbuszowa District Prosecutor’s Office opened a case in July under Article 160(2) of the criminal code, which covers placing individuals in direct danger of death or severe injury. Investigators are gathering medical records, determining who authorized the expired shots, the extent of the expiry, and consulting experts about potential health risks.
