Publication:

Vaccine wastage assessment in a primary care setting in rural India

Background Knowing the wastage rate helps in assessing vaccine wastage and relative magnitude of its various causes helps to target efforts in reduce this wastage. Area specific wastage rate is useful in tailoring the vaccine vial size. Research question: What is the vaccine wastage in a primary care setting in rural India?

Methods A record based descriptive study was carried out in an immunization clinic of rural health centre in South India. All childhood vaccinations between 1st April 2012 and 31st March 2013 were included in the study. Number of doses issued and number of children vaccinated were obtained from the registers maintained at the rural health centre. Vaccine wastage rates and wastage factor were calculated.

Results A total of 5013 vaccinations (DPT, OPV, measles, MMR, and pentavalent, hep B, TT) were provided. Wastage rate for liquid vaccines was 3.4% and for lyophilized vaccines 28.2% among vaccines provided under national immunization schedule, wastage was highest for measles (46.5%).

Conclusions All vaccines except measles had wastage within the limits proposed by World Health Organization. Wastage rates have to be calculated routinely and considered during vaccine procurement.