Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir and Madhya Pradesh have reported the highest percentage of vaccine wastage.
Vaccine Wastage
Jharkhand- 37.3%
Chhattisgarh-30.2%
Tamil Nadu-15.5%
Jammu and Kashmir-10.8%
Madhya Pradesh-10.7%.
The national average is 6.3%
The high vaccine wastage in these regions was notified by health ministry in a nation-wide review of pace of vaccination on Tuesday.
In fact, wastage is taken into consideration by the Centre while allotting vaccines to states. Wastage Multiplication Factor (WMF) is taken into consideration while planning the vaccination programme.
How vaccine wastage happens ?
Vaccine wastage is prone to happen during transportation, storage and at vaccination centres.
The COVID-19 vaccines are supplied in multi-dose vials, with each vial having 10 doses of vaccine. There is probability of vials breaking or getting damaged while transportation. The vaccine also needs to be stored in a particular temperature range. Failure to maintain the needed temperature during transportation, storage or at vaccination centre may result in it getting wasted. Besides, pilferage and black marketing can also not be ruled out. The theft of COVID-19 vaccine vials from the storeroom of a hospital in Haryana’s Jind district recently is an example. Contamination of vaccine after opening it is another way in which vaccines can become ineffective and will have to be discarded.
How to reduce vaccine wastage
1. Ensure vials are not damaged during transportation.
2. Correct temperature should be maintained while storing the vaccine and a temperature log to be maintained so that any deviations are noticed and corrective measures taken.
3. Damaged storage equipment should be quickly replaced.
4. Proper planning can reduce vaccine wastage as well.
5. Vials with earlier expiry date should be used before vials with a later expiry date.
6. As each vial contains 10 doses of vaccine, new vials should only be opened when there are a certain number of beneficiaries present to get vaccinated.
7. Staggered and continuous movement of beneficiaries can ensure that there are at least 10 beneficiaries available within the 4-hour time period during which the vaccine has to be administered after opening the vial.
