VACCINE WASTAGE

Subject : Science & tech

Context : A concern flagged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, vaccine wastage is an expected part of any large inoculation drive.

Concept :

Vaccine wastage is directly linked to vaccine usage, which is the proportion of vaccines administered against vaccines issued to a vaccination site.
The vaccine wastage rate is defined as 100 minus the vaccine usage rate.
And the wastage rate directly determines the “wastage factor” that needs to be established for each vaccine in the immunisation schedule to accurately plan vaccine needs.
It is broadly divided into two categories: wastage in unopened vials, and in opened vials.
Wastage in unopened vials can occur due to six broad reasons: if the expiry date has been reached; if the vaccine is exposed to heat; if the vaccine has been frozen; breakage; missing inventory and theft; and while discarding unused vials returned from the vaccination site.
Wastage in opened vials can occur due to five broad reasons: while discarding remaining doses at the end of the session; not being able to draw the number of doses in a vial; submergence of opened vials in the water; suspected contamination; and poor vaccine administration practices.