Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed disappointment with the states wasting vaccination for the Novel Coronavirus. On the 17th of March, a high level meeting was held with the chief ministers (CMs) of Indian states.
The meeting was organised to review the situation of COVID-19 or Novel Coronavirus in India. Besides discussing the prevention measures for COVID-19, the meeting also discussed COVID-19 vaccination drive and wastage of COVID-19 vaccination doses.
Mr. Modi expressed disappointment over emerging statistics of COVID-19 vaccine wastage in the country. PM Modi asserted that wasting a vaccine is taking away a person’s right and directed states to work on targeting zero wastage
The information regarding the vaccine wastage was informed by Niti Aayog member Dr. V.K. Paul. According to Dr. Paul, India’s overall percentage of COVID-19 vaccine wastage is 6.50 %. In this, two Telugu states, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana reported highest with 17.60 % and11.60 % of vaccine wastage respectively.
During a media briefing about the COVID-19 situation, Mr. Paul said, “With disappointment, Prime Minister Modi expressed concern over the vaccine wastage. Vaccine wastage should not take place and should be taken to a minimum. There should be accountability at the central level. Daily it should be assessed in states.”
Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan also said the COVID-19 vaccine wastage should be reduced as it is an invaluable commodity.
Mr. Rajesh Bhushan said, “There are states like Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Jammu and Kashmir which are showing more than 6.5% of the vaccine wastage. We have shared this message with states that vaccines are invaluable commodities therefore vaccines have to be optimally utilised and it has to be drastically reduced.
This is not the first time that the Central Government asked the states to be cautious and not to waste vaccine doses. In January 2021, days after the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive, the Government of India warned 5 states about the same.
Five states including Tripura, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Odisha wasted 5,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
Meanwhile, in India so far, close to 3.50 crore people received doses of the Novel Coronavirus. The figures were confirmed by the Union Health Ministry on the evening of the 17th of March.
The nationwide vaccination drive which started on the 16th of January, aims to vaccinate 133 crore citizens of India. The vaccination drive is being continued in a phased manner starting from healthcare workers, sanitation staff, police personnel, senior citizens and others. However, pregnant women, people above 80 years and children would not be given the doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
Stay tuned for further updates.
