Don’t waste Covid-19 vaccines, Centre tells states

The Union Health Ministry on Wednesday asked the states to reduce wastage of Covid-19 vaccines while assuring there would be no vaccine shortage as the gates to vaccinate anyone above 45 years are set to open up.

“Maintain vaccine wastage at less than 1% as against the present vaccine wastage of 6% and regularly review vaccine wastage across all levels to minimise the same,” top officials said.

This was conveyed to the states at a high-level review meeting in which Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Secretary and R S Sharma, chairperson, empowered group on Covid-19 vaccination spoke to state health secretaries, mission directors of National Health Mission and state immunization officers.

In addition, state officials have been asked to identify pockets with low vaccination coverage particularly in districts showing Covid-19 surge so that the pace of inoculation in such areas can be accelerated to cover the eligible persons with the first dose in the next two weeks.

Also read: Centre holds meet with states, UTs ahead of opening up Covid-19 vaccination to people above 45

On the issue of vaccine supply, the states have been told since there is no issue in vaccine supply, they should not hold over the vaccine stocks for the second dose and promptly supply vaccines to all government and private hospitals where there is a demand.

“There is no sedimentation of vaccine stocks at any level of storage. The distribution (to the states) is based on consumption to avoid overstocking as well as under-stocking at cold chain points and Covid vaccination centres,” the ministry said in a statement.

But the states should be careful in selecting the batches to minimise the loss.

The issue of vaccine wastage had figured in a review meeting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi held with the Chief Ministers two weeks ago in which Modi flagged the instances of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh as the states where nearly 10% of the Covid-19 vaccine is wasted.

The Prime Minister told the Chief Ministers to utilise the vaccine in accordance with the expiry date on the vial.

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So far 91 lakh individuals – mostly healthcare and front line workers – received two doses of the vaccine whereas more than 6 crore got at least one dose.

From April 1, the eligible beneficiaries can get the vaccines either through registration on the Co-WIN platform or walking to a vaccination centre for a spot registration and the shot. But those who would prefer to walk in, have to go after 3 pm, as per the central government policy.