In a reply to the RTI query, it was revealed that about 23 percent of the vaccine was wasted by states till April 1, 2021. It was stated in the RTI reply that the total vaccines provided were 10.34 crore doses, out of these around 44.78 lakh were wasted.
States like Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Punjab, Manipur, and Telangana had reported maximum waste of vaccine. Meanwhile, states and UTs with zero wastage are Kerala, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Goa, Daman and Diu, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep.
According to an early report, Tamil Nadu wasted 12.4% of vaccine, Haryana 10% of vaccine doses. Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, Assam and Manipur are also not far behind in wasting the vaccines.
The data was reported after the Centre accused the Maharashtra government of vaccine wastage meanwhile second wave coronavirus was hitting the country badly.
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The RTI details emerged a day after the government announced that people above 18 years are also eligible for vaccination from May 1. The government has scaled up the vaccination drive and decided to make pricing, procurement, eligibility, and administration of vaccines open and flexible.
The government said that states can buy vaccine doses directly from the manufacturers in the liberalized and accelerated Phase 3 strategy of Covid 19 vaccination. Considering the wastage, the government also stated that wastage of vaccine doses can negatively affect the quota of a state.
Meanwhile, the country is suffering from a vaccine shortage. The Health system in several states has collapsed due to a shortage of vaccines, beds, ventilators, and oxygen supply. The second wave of coronavirus is getting worse day by day as more than 2 lakh of people are contracting coronavirus daily.