Centre says Covid vaccine wastage in India at 6.5%, calls for optimal usage

Some states which are performing better in management of their vaccine supply include Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand

With India witnessing a vaccine wastage of 6.5 per cent, the government has asked states to promote optimal utilisation and drastically reduce the wastage, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said on Wednesday.

Several states are recording much higher levels of wastage than the national average, such as Telangana, which is losing 17.5 per cent of vaccines; Andhra Pradesh (11.6 per cent) and Uttar Pradesh (9.4 per cent). The government has made available 75 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines so far across all states, according to the health ministry. 

“Vaccines are public he­alth goods. They are invaluable commodities. Any redu­c­tion in wastage means you