Visakhapatnam: Plans ready for effective handling of vaccine wastage

Visakhapatnam: As the first shot of Covid-19 vaccine is reaching the beneficiaries in the days to come, safe disposal of used needles and syringes turns out to be a larger task.

Though the government's strategy stresses on 'One needle, one syringe, only one time', the district officials are preparing for the safer disposal of discarded injections.

Given the large quantum of syringe waste expected during the ensuing immunisation programme, the district administration is charting out plans for scientific disposal of vaccine wastage.

Just like the disposal of Covid-19 biomedical waste, the officials concerned say, a similar mechanism will be followed to discard syringes and needles. "As of now, the disposal of Covid-19 biomedical waste is being carried out by the third party agency. One of the main players disposing of the biomedical waste at the moment is likely to take up the syringe disposal task as well," shares PS Surya Narayana, District Medical and Health Officer, with The Hans India Unlike Covid-19 biomedical waste, District Immunisation Officer S Jeevan Rani says, the element of risk in discarding used needles and syringes is comparatively less. "Moreover, plans are in place to administer vaccine to a limited number of beneficiaries per day. This will eventually aid in handling waste disposal of syringes effectively," she reasons.

Explaining further about the disposal process, Chief Medical Officer (GVMC) KSLG Sastry says, "At present, vehicles are used to pick up biomedical waste from various hospitals. Adhering to guidelines, a scientific approach will be followed to discard used injections as well."

Currently, the collected Covid-19 biomedical waste is being disposed of in high temperature that exceeds 800-degree centigrade. "Disposal of used injections is not as riskier as discarding Covid-19 biomedical waste. As a part of safe disposal practice, the injected needles and syringes will be cut into smaller portions," explains Buddharaju Sivaji, the third-party agent who is handling Covid-19 bio-waste.

While the exercise of readying the list of beneficiaries receiving the first dose of vaccine in the initial phase gains pace, the ground is also getting ready to dispose of vaccine wastage in a systematic manner.