Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development
  • Year: 2016
  • Volume: 7
  • Issue: 4

Vaccine Wastage Assessment in an Urban Health Care Setup in South India

  • Author:
  • Vaman Kulkarni1, Bhagawan Darshan2,, Bhaskaran Unnikrishnan3, Malavika Hari4, S Radhika4, Eric Wang Li Yuan4, Saad Mujtahedi4, Meher Singha4, Aadhya Sharma4, Anshul Chatrath4
  • Total Page Count: 4
  • Page Number: 69 to 72

1Associate Professor, Kasturba Medical College (Manipal University), Mangalore, Karnataka, India

2Assistant Professor, Kasturba Medical College (Manipal University), Mangalore, Karnataka, India

3Professor and Head of, Department of Community, Kasturba Medical College (Manipal University), Mangalore, Karnataka, India

4MBBS Student, Kasturba Medical College (Manipal University), Mangalore, Karnataka, India

*Corresponding author: Dr. Darshan B B Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College [Manipal University], Mangalore-575001, Karnataka, India. Phone No. +91-9964196467 (Mobile) Fax-: +91 824 2422271 (Office) Email: drdarshanbb@gmail.com

Online published on 14 October, 2016.

Abstract

Vaccine wastage is reported to be at 50% globally. Even though vaccine wastage is unavoidable it can be reduced to certain extent. Introduction of multi dose vial policy, effective use of vaccine vial monitors is expected to decrease vaccine wastage.

To determine the vaccine wastage rates and vaccine wastage factors in a tertiary and primary care set ups and to identify the factors associate with it.

A record based descriptive study conducted over a period of two months in a district hospital and primary health centre of Mangalore, Karnataka. The study population included children who were vaccinated at immunization clinic between January 12009 and December 312011. The investigators visited the health centre and retrieved the number of vials used during immunization sessions and number of children vaccinated. The Vaccine Wastage Factor was calculated by using the formula 100/(100-vaccine wastage rate).

Vaccine wastage was found to be higher in the government hospital for all four vaccines included in the study. Vaccine wastage rates of open vial at PHC were Measles (59.6%) >BCG (6.4%) >DPT (38.1%) >HEPB (24.2%). Measles vaccine wastage was found to be greater. On other hand, tertiary care center vaccine wastage in open vial was found to be BCG (91.4%) > DPT (90.4%) >HEPB (87.8%) > Measles (67.8%).

Vaccine wastage was found to be higher than the recommended amount as stated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and was also found to be higher in the Government hospital as compared to the PHC in all the three years, except for measles vaccine.

Keywords

India, Tertiary Care Centers, Primary Health Care, Vaccination