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Vaccine Wastage Assessment, India

European Immunization Week

Issue 37, 11 January 2010

Editorial Note

Ranjit Dhiman posts information on a study assessing vaccine wastage in India and suggests that vaccine security can be improved through reduced vaccine wastage. Issue 37 also has Tasnim Partapuri sharing information on the European Immunization Week. It is interesting to note the communication tools that are now available to spread awareness regarding immunization.

Vaccine Wastage Assessment, India
by Ranjit Dhiman

In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Government of India, UNICEF with WHO and partners carried out a vaccine wastage assessment in India. The aim of the study was to understand current vaccine wastage at various levels, and with varying packaging. The study also aims to understand wastage based on different coverage levels and to suggest areas where wastage can be minimized.

The lack of knowledge of the wastage rates leads to inadequate estimations of needs and subsequent stock-outs and/or overstocking. High vaccine wastage inflates vaccine demand and unnecessarily increases vaccine procurement and supply chain costs. In the Indian context, any reduction of vaccine wastage will have a positive impact on the ongoing efforts towards vaccine security.

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European Immunization Week
by Tasnim Partapuri

Every year since 2006, the World Health Organization (WHO) has dedicated one week in April to raising awareness about the importance of immunization as a public health strategy in Europe. [2010 EIW dates: April 24 - May 1]. Each year, EIW draws on a variety of in-person and virtual connection spaces for sharing information and generating support for vaccination. For the 2009 EIW, WHO leveraged internet-based viral techniques and social media to advocate for immunization: an animated YouTube video aims to spread the EIW message by word-of-mouth (virally) online as well as drive traffic to an informational website.

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Photo Courtesy: Ranjit Dhiman

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