In a reply to the RTI query, it was revealed that about23 percent of the vaccine was wasted by states till April 1, 2021. It wasstated in the RTI reply that the total vaccines provided were 10.34 croredoses, out of these around 44.78 lakh were wasted.
States like Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Punjab, Manipur, andTelangana had reported maximum waste of vaccine. Meanwhile, states and UTs withzero wastage are Kerala, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Goa, Daman andDiu, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep.
According to an early report, Tamil Nadu wasted 12.4% ofvaccine, 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 theMaharashtra government of vaccine wastage meanwhile second wave coronavirus washitting the country badly.
The RTI details emerged a day after the governmentannounced that people above 18 years are also eligible for vaccination from May1. 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 dosesdirectly from the manufacturers in the liberalized and accelerated Phase 3strategy of Covid 19 vaccination. Considering the wastage, the government alsostated that wastage of vaccine doses can negatively affect the quota of astate.
Meanwhile, the country is suffering from a vaccineshortage. The Health system in several states has collapsed due to a shortageof vaccines, beds, ventilators, and oxygen supply. The second wave ofcoronavirus is getting worse day by day as more than 2 lakh of people arecontracting coronavirus daily.