ASSESSMENT OF VACCINE WASTAGE IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE OF DISTRICT CUTTACK, ODISHA

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Vaccine wastage is dened as loss by use, decay, erosion or leakage or through wastefulness. Vaccine wastage is an important factor in forecasting vaccine needs. Despite the concerted efforts of the government and other health agencies, a large proportion of vulnerable infants and children remain unimmunized in India and one of the rationales behind it is mismanagement of vaccine logistics. OBJECTIVE: To monitor Vaccine Wastage at the Immunization Clinic in a Tertiary Care Hospital. 2.To assess Vaccine Wastage Rate (VWR) and Vaccine Wastage Factor (VWF)or wastage multiplication factor of different vaccines administered. 3.To compare the VWR and VWF of different vaccines. METHODS: Record based descriptive study carried out in an Immunization clinic of a tertiary center at SCB Medical College, Cuttack. All children who got vaccinated in the immunization clinic between 1st April 2018 and 31st July 2018 were included in the study. Number of vaccine vials issued and number of children vaccinated for was obtained from immunization register. Vaccine wastage rates and Wastage factor were calculated. RESULTS: Vaccine wastage rate (VWR) and Wastage multiplication factor (WMF) was highest for BCG and was lowest for Pentavalent vaccine. VWF or WMF for vaccines of 10 dose preparations (BCG, DPT, DT and TT) was 2.0, i.e highest for BCG (3.4) and lowest for vaccines of 5 dose preparations (Measles), i.e 1.8. Wastage factor and wastage rate were higher in lyophilized vaccines (2.86 and 64.86% respectively) compared to that of liquid vaccines i.e. (1.40 and 28.36% respectively). CONCLUSION: Monitoring vaccine wastage is useful as a programme monitoring tool to improve programme quality and increase the efciency of the programme. Such monitoring can provide good guidance on the introduction of corrective actions to reduce wastage whenever necessary.