Assessment of Vaccine Wastage in an Immunisation Clinic of a Tertiary Care Centre in Western Odisha- A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Vaccine wastage is an expected component of any immunisation program. Wastage is defined as “loss by use, decay, erosion or leakage or through wastefulness”. Vaccine wastage in unopened vial is mostly attributed by cold chain and stock management problem. Vaccine wastage in opened vial is mostly due to discarding of remaining dose at the end of the session, not being able to draw the number of doses in a vial, submergence of opened vials in water and poor vaccine administration practices. Aim: To assess the vaccine wastage in an immunisation clinic of a tertiary care centre in western Odisha, India. Materials and Methods: A record based descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at Immunisation Clinic, Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Burla, Odisha, India. The information regarding children and pregnant women vaccinated were retrieved from immunisation register for the study period 1st October 2019 to 30th September 2020. Vaccine wastage rate at the immunisation clinic was calculated by taking into account the number of doses of vaccines wasted divided by the total number of the doses of vaccines issued multiplied by 100. Results: Vaccine wastage rate and wastage factor was found to be highest in case of Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine (wastage rate 65% and wastage factor 2.85) and lowest in Hepatitis B vaccine (wastage rate 1.67% and wastage factor 1.01). Wastage rate for 10 dose vial was 28.37% followed by 19.72% for 25 dose vial and 10.11% for 20 dose vial. Wastage rate and wastage factor was found to be higher in lyophilised vaccines when compared to liquid vaccines and the difference was statistically significant. Wastage rate and wastage factor was found to be higher for oral vaccines when compared to injectable vaccines and the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: It was seen that in case of MR vaccine (supplied as 10 dose/vial), vaccine wastage was more as it didn’t follow open vial policy and less number of beneficiary came for MR vaccine per immunisation session. The vaccine wastage can be reduced in lyophilised vaccines if they are supplied in less doses per vial.

Keywords

• liquid vaccine
• lyophilised vaccine
• measles-rubella vaccine
• wastage factor