India Registers 6.5% Of Vaccine Wastage Amid Second Wave Of COVID-19; Telangana, Andhra & UP Top Contributors

The average of COVID-19 vaccine wastage in India is 6.5 per cent with Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh being the top 3 contributors to India's Covid-19 vaccine wastage.

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As the second wave of Coronavirus stares straight in the face, the central and state governments have swung back into the action making efforts to control the spread of the novel disease and vaccinate people as quickly as possible to prevent them from catching infection.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said quick and decisive steps were needed to stop the emerging second wave of Covid-19. Meanwhile, the central government raised concerns over the wastage of COVID-19 vaccines in the country.

Addressing a press conference, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that the average of COVID-19 vaccine wastage in India is 6.5 per cent with Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh being the top 3 contributors to India's Covid-19 vaccine wastage.

As stated in the media reports, the Health Secretary noted that COVID-19 vaccine wastage in five states – Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Jammu and Kashmir – is higher than 6.5 per cent, which is the national average.

"The message we have shared with states is that vaccines are invaluable commodities. They are public health goods and therefore vaccines have to be optimally utilised. Vaccine wastage has to be drastically reduced. Any reduction in wastage means that you end up inoculating more people and therefore the chances of disrupting the chain of infection grow that much more," Bhushan said.

It is to be noted that a vial of the Covid-19 vaccine contains a set number of doses that need to be administered within a few hours of opening it else it could lead to wastage. 

As per the latest figures, more than 3.64 Crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered, so far. About 14.03 lakh vaccine doses were given till 7 pm in last 24 hours. Out of the total dosage administered 1.38 crore (All 1st doses) has been given to people aged 60 years and above, and people aged 45-59 years with comorbidities.