By now it is clear that vaccine jabs for COVID-19 are of immense value and under no circumstances the same should be allowed to get wasted. As the reports coming earlier suggested that a lot of vaccine doses have been wasted due to mismanagement therefore the government has now come up with failsafe planning to ensure that not even a single vaccine jab goes unused and for this an advisory has been issued asking states and union territories to replace near-expiry vaccine vials available with private health facilities with long expiry jabs by acquiring the same from government hospitals as the consumption in private is comparatively lesser than their counterparts in government sectors. In this way the near-expiry vaccine doses would be utilized well before the date of expiry thus utilizing the jabs fully. Besides, there are also ways to stop wastage of vaccine as once opened the whole lot has to be consumed in one go and therefore the healthcare staff should ensure that the number of people are in proportion with the vials meant for inoculation. As per the Health Ministry all the States and Union Territories should consider exchange of near-expiry vaccine vials at private COVID-19 Vaccination Centres (CVCs) with long-expiry vaccine vials available with government CVCs after due diligence. This is important for ensuring that no vial of COVID-19 vaccine in government CVCs as well as private CVCs is wasted. Already government had made a provision for entry of these exchanged vaccines in CoWIN. Already, directions have been issued to specific States of West Bengal, Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra in this regard and things are being accomplished accordingly. All the states have been asked to ensure regular review to check the status of vaccines available with private CVCs. The vaccination is vital to stop the COVID-19 from wreaking havoc and looking into the latest study by researchers in India predicting fourth wave from mid June, taking care of every single vial of vaccine has become quite significant and therefore the step taken by the Centre will go a long way in combating coronavirus.
