As COVID-19 vaccine stocks near expiry, private hospitals worried over poor utilisation

While there is no official estimation of the available stock in private hospitals, sources said nearly 25,000 doses are lying unused in private hospitals in Karnataka

Concerned over the poor utilisation of vaccine stocks that will expire this month end, private hospitals are not keen on replenishing the stock or procuring more vials. 

The overall coverage of precaution dose is abysmally poor in Karnataka with not more than 21% of the eligible population getting the third dose. This is despite the State offering it for free in government COVID-19 vaccination centres.

There are hardly any takers for the COVID-19 vaccine in private hospitals. While there is no official estimation of the available stocks in private hospitals, sources said nearly 25,000 doses are lying unused in private hospitals in Karnataka.

Govindaiah Yatheesh, president of Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (PHANA), said, “Private hospitals are concerned about utilising the existing stocks as they will expire shortly. If the available stock is not used up, it will be inevitable for us to seek a replacement of the expired doses from the manufacturers,” he said.

A representative from Serum Institute of India (SII) - the manufacturer of Covishield, said the company has already replaced stocks twice in the past. “It may not be possible for the company to replace the nearing expiry stocks again this time,” he said, refusing to be quoted.

R. Ravindra, Medical Director of Suguna Hospital who is also  former PHANA president, said many private hospitals were mentally prepared to write off the vaccine stock. “With hardly any enquiries for the COVID-19 vaccine in private hospitals we are not sure whether we can use the stock even if the company replaces the expired stocks. Also, we are not keen on procuring any fresh stock as we will only be spending on its storage,” Dr. Ravindra said.

Alexander Thomas, president of Association of Healthcare Providers of India (AHPI), said the situation is similar in private hospitals across the country. “Some hospitals tried offering it free instead of wasting the stock. Despite that there are hardly any takers,” he said.