Return unused Covid-19 vaccine stock, govt tells private hospitals

Leading facilities in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru have got communication in this regard

In the run-up to the universal immunisation drive starting May 1, private hospitals are being told to return the un-used stock of Covid-19 vaccines to the State Government by the end of this month. Many states are learnt to have already issued an advisory to hospitals on this.

The state-level advisory follows a diktat from the Centre. Union Health secretary Rajesh Bhushan, had in a letter dated April 23, directed all state chief secretaries that any un-utilised vaccine stock balance as on April 30 would have to be returned to the cold chain point from where they were issued. The