Kerala, West Bengal Have Used The Most COVID-19 Vaccines, Have 'Negative Wastage' Of Doses
Even since the mass rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in India began, the wastage of life-saving doses has been a concern.
While vaccine wastage has been reported from many states, there are others that have been using the extra dose in the vial to give one more vaccination, making sure that nothing goes to waste.
Kerala and Bengal lead the way
Two states, Kerala and West Bengal are setting new benchmarks for the utilization of vaccines. While Kerala reported -6.37 per cent vaccine wastage, West Bengal recorded -5.48 per cent, saving 1.10 lakh and 1.61 lakh doses respectively in May.
Kerala government had said that the state has been maintaining a negative wastage - meaning that even the doses that were allocated as 'wastage factor' are being utilized to inoculate people.
One vial or a bottle of the vaccine has enough doses to provide the jabs to 10 people, but the manufacturers add one dose extra as a 'wastage factor'.
Usually, this is lost between the?ten doses that are taken from the one vial, but in Kerala, the Chief Minister said that they have been able to vaccinate 11 people from one vial.
Jharkhand remains a concern
While Kerala and West Bengal have managed negative wastage, Jharkhand remains a concern.?
Jharkhand reported maximum wastage of 33.95 per cent, according to government data.
Chhattisgarh reported 15.79 per cent vaccine wastage while Madhya Pradesh reported 7.35 per cent.
States like Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra reported 7.08 per cent, 3.95 per cent, 3.91 per cent, 3.78 and 3.63 per cent and 3.59 per cent respectively.
Slow down
The data showed that a total of 790.6 lakh vaccines were supplied to states and UTs in May out of which total vaccinations were 610.6 lakh while 658.6 lakh shots were utilized and the closing balance was 212.7 lakh.
The vaccination in May was less as compared to April in which a total of 898.7 lakh vaccinations were done, 902.2 lakh vaccines were utilised and the closing balance was 80.8 lakh.
