LAHORE - Polio vaccine worth $3.3 million dollars, sufficient for administering to 55 million children of up to five years of age, has gone waste due to lack of maintenance of temperature at Federal Warehouse Islamabad, The Nation has learnt.
While confirming wastage of Polio vaccine, Minister of State for National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarrar said that two storekeepers had been suspended after initial probe and further inquiry was underway.
Lack of maintenance of temperature at the main warehouse has caused a severe blow to the government claims regarding measures to maintain cold chain for preserving the efficacy of vaccine even on the doorsteps of targeted children in far flung areas.
In addition to the funding from World Health Organization (WHO), Bill Gates Foundation and Japan, the government is borrowing money from Islamic Development Bank (IDB) for purchase of Polio vaccine for repeated campaigns across the country in general and in targeted hotspots in particular to eradicate the crippling virus. Insiders informed that Pakistan has taken loan from IDB for carrying out expensive Polio vaccination campaigns.
“Pakistan will return the actual amount and partner organisations like Bill Gates Foundation will pay interest,” said an official at Federal Health Ministry who wanted not to be quoted.
Referring to the possible reasons behind wastage of Polio vaccine, he said that fluctuation in temperature for two to three days could not cause significant harm.
“Officials at store are bound to take daily readings. They are supposed to immediately switch on generator during loadshedding to protect the stored vaccination. Three to four days fluctuation cannot cause significant damage. Fluctuation for over a month has caused the vaccine to reach VVM three level, a condition that it has zero efficacy and as such cannot be administered,” he said, adding, suspension of storekeepers were not enough and there was need of thorough probe and exemplary punishment to culprits who have not only caused loss to the national exchequer but has also put a question mark on the seriousness of the government to eradicate the crippling virus.
He said that wastage of vaccine at warehouse would convey a wrong message to the donors like WHO, Bill Gates Foundation and Japanese government who were expecting maintenance of proper cold chain from the stores to doorsteps in far flung areas.
“How the government can claim maintaining proper cold chain from stores to house of children when it failed to preserve vaccine even at its main warehouse,” he said.
When contacted, Saira Afzal Tarrar confirmed wastage of 60 per cent of the vaccine at one of the store of federal warehouse.
“Two storekeepers have been suspended after initial probe. After visiting the store, Secretary Health has constituted a high level committee headed by incharge warehouse Karachi for detailed probe. The Committee will make detailed inventory and submit report after thorough investigation. Hopefully, we will get findings of the committee in next 2-3 days,” Saira Tarrar said, adding, action would be taken in light of findings of the inquiry committee.
She said that there was no need of worry as vaccine stock sufficient for next six months was available at the government store.