6k half-empty vials of Covid vaccines found in garbage pit

6k half-empty vials of Covid vaccines found in garbage pit

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bhopal:25.11.2021

As many as 5,500 half-empty vials of Covishield vaccine and 550 halfempty vials of Covaxin were found in a garbage pit in Mauganj community health centre of Rewa district on Wednesday.

Pictures of these vials went viral, triggering an allout administrative response. The district’s chief medical and health officer, Dr BL Mishra, set up a probe team and sent it the town, around 65km from Rewa HQ. He too rushed to the spot at night, and said the vials contained unused doses.

“Not even one of these vials of Covishield and Covaxin was sealed. These are actually last doses that were left over as patients did not turn up. Suppose, a vial is opened and only seven patients show up, then the remaining three doses are not used the next day. The only irresponsibility in this case pertains to improper disposal of medical waste,” the CMHO told TOI.

“Before the new waste disposal norms were put in place in the state a few years ago, medical wasted used to be dumped in garbage pits. This is one of the same garbage pits. Notices will be issued to all concerned over improper disposal,” he added.

Pictures of the vials in a garbage pit went viral on Wednesday