The World Health Organisation in its guidelines for programme managers said that more than 50% of vaccines are wasted globally every year. Data released by the Union Health Ministry in May said that COVID-19  vaccine wastage in Indian states was as high as 37.3%. While Jharkhand and Chhatisgarh lead the charts, Tamil Nadu (15.5%) and Jammu and Kashmir (10.8%) also reported a high percentage of wastage.

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Here is what vaccine wastage is and how it happens:

What is vaccine wastage?

According to the World Health Organization, vaccine wastage is “ the sum of vaccines discarded, lost, damaged or destroyed.” 

Highlighting the importance of analysing vaccine wastage when more than 45% population of the United States is fully vaccinated and India has provided more than 29,46,39,511 doses, WHO says, “Accurately calculating the wastage rate is essential for reducing stock-outs and over-stock, choosing the most appropriate vaccine presentation and immunisation session size, as well as sizing supply chain infrastructure at country level.”

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WHO further adds that the vaccine wastage rate is ‘100 minus the vaccine usage rate’.

How does vaccine wastage happen?

Vaccine wastage is a result of several logistical and non-logistical issues. The vaccine is lost from both opened and sealed vials. A weak cold chain, breakage during transport, unused vaccines crossing the expiry date or glitches in the inventory can cause wastage. 

Health workers discarding opened vials without using the full dose or not being able to draw the number of doses indicated on the label of a vial can lead to wastage.

Failure to maintain the needed temperature during transportation or at the vaccination centre may result in it getting wasted. Theft of vaccine vials is another factor.