New Delhi: Union health ministry in a letter to states and Union Territories (UTs) has urged to avoid any wastage of Covid-19 vaccines at government vaccination centres including private facilities.
Additional secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Vikas Sheel said that the letter was sent to states and UTs keeping in mind vaccines available at private Covid vaccination centres (CVCs) that were nearing their expiry date.
"This is in reference to the issue of near expiry COVID vaccines available at private CVCs. Earlier also directions have been issued to specific States of West Bengal, Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra," the letter read.
"It is reiterated to all the States/UTs that the MoHFW has no objection for the States/UTs to consider of near expiry vaccine vials of private CVCs with long expiry vaccine vials available with government CVCs after due diligence. Kindly ensure that no vials of COVID vaccine in government CVCs as well as in private CVCs should be wasted. The provision of entry of these exchanged vaccines is available in CoWIN, " Sheel further said in the letter.
According to health ministry data, over 178 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered to eligible people so far. Out of the total administered vaccines, 21,83,976 doses of Covid jabs were given in the last 24 hours.
The health ministry Thursday also confirmed that over 15 crore of Covid vaccines remain unutilised with states and Union territories.
Meanwhile, India in the last 24 hours reported 6,561 new Covid-19 cases and 142 deaths, whihc puts the total active caseload in the country at 77,152. The total recoveries stand at 14,947, which is 98.62 per cent.