Agadir – Spain’s Ministry of Health is set to send 25,000 vaccine doses to Ceuta as a preventive measure for any health concerns amid the recent migrants crossing to Ceuta.
The Public Health Commission (CSP) approved the distribution of the doses, including 15,000 measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines and 10,000 doses covering diphtheria, tetanus, chickenpox, and polio.
According to Spanish media, the measure will ensure Ceuta has sufficient vaccines to respond to vaccination needs involving both unvaccinated residents and migrants.
The ministry said that the objective is to strengthen preventive measures without disrupting Ceuta’s routine vaccination program.
Health authorities stressed that the situation does not currently constitute a public health emergency, while emphasizing the need for preventive action. The ministry also said that ensuring dignified conditions for migrants remains the most urgent priority.
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A delegation from Spain’s Ministry of Health, led by Secretary of State for Health and President of the National Institute of Health Management (Ingesa) Javier Padilla, is also in Ceuta to assess the impact of the migration crisis on the city’s University Hospital and primary healthcare services.
The decision to reinforce Ceuta’s vaccine supplies comes after concerns were raised by some political figures and media outlets over the possible impact of the mass migrant arrival on healthcare and public health in the enclave.
However, Spanish Health Minister Mónica García rejected claims that the migration influx had pushed Ceuta’s healthcare system to the point of collapse.
“There is no healthcare collapse in Ceuta,” García said on August 16 after meeting with Ceuta President Juan Jesús Vivas and other officials.
García acknowledged that several services, including emergency care, internal medicine, and primary healthcare, had come under increased pressure. However, she said the system remained operational and that healthcare services for local residents had not been suspended or disrupted.
