Slow vaccination rates and disposal of vaccine residues

Slow vaccination rates

 

Ukraine is still at the bottom of the world ranking of countries in terms of vaccination. As of 28.04. the first dose of the vaccine was given to 629 thousand people (i.e. about 1.5% of the population), and the second - only 10 people. At the same time, 60 countries have already vaccinated at least 10% of the population with the first dose.

The reason for the lag is the low rate of vaccination, which has slowed down in recent weeks. For example, if from March 29 to April 4, 93 thousand people received a dose of the vaccine, then from April 5 to 11 - 86 thousand, and from 12 to 18 - only 72 thousand people.

 

This cannot be explained only by the shortage of vaccines: on April 1, there were 327 thousand doses of vaccines in warehouses, as of April 14, there were 276 thousand, so the reduction in available volumes was not critical.

 

Moreover, in 3 oblasts, the Ministry of Health's vaccination plan was thwarted without using a batch of Astra-Zeneca vaccine in due time.

 

In our opinion, one of the reasons is the inefficiency of the process at the level of vaccination points. On March 22, as part of the second stage of the vaccination campaign in Ukraine, 565 points were opened for the vaccination of physicians, social workers and the elderly over the age of 80. However, there was no significant increase in vaccination rates.

 

Over the last month, only 44,000 people over the age of 80 have been vaccinated out of the 1.8 million identified in the Roadmap. At the same time, vaccination of employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (police, border guards), which belong to the next third stage of vaccination, started on April 17.

 

Since April 28, more than 2,100 vaccination points have been opened, which should start vaccinating people over the age of 65. However, in the light of previous experience, the Ministry of Health should pay more attention to communication and the involvement of people at risk in the process.

 

Disposal of vaccine residues

 

Given the possible problems in the organization of vaccination in the local level, the problem of unused residues is acute - doses in open vials, which can be stored only for a limited amount of time.

 

Back in February, an infectious disease doctor from the Chernivtsi Regional Hospital said that the remains (AstraZeneca / Covishield vaccine) had to be disposed of: “The ampoule is opened and pierced with a needle. From this point on, the vial should be stored for no more than 6 hours. On the first day, 54 people were vaccinated and 6 doses were disposed of. ”

 

It is difficult to calculate the exact number of lost doses, but according to Volodymyr Dzombak, head of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administration's health department, more than 500 doses of such residues have been disposed of in the region alone.

 

Health Minister Maxim Stepanov denied in the live TV stream that the residual doses had been disposed of, but acknowledged that they "could have spoiled for technical reasons".

 

The Ministry of Health collects data from working groups for vaccination

 

Following a scandal involving the vaccination of employees of the private enterprise Agroprodservice, the Ministry of Health decided to provide the process with organized forms and began collecting applications for vaccination from businesses. To take advantage of this opportunity, the company must have more than 50 people ready to be vaccinated. The application for calling the mobile team can be left at the contact center number.

 

As of April 27, the previous list includes more than 200 work teams from all over the country, numbering from 50 to 9 thousand people.

 

At the same time, the Chief Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine Viktor Lyashko stressed that vaccination will be carried out in accordance with the stages defined by the Roadmap, and teams will be vaccinated only if a sufficient number of vaccines are delivered to Ukraine. However, for more effective use of the vaccine, some of them may be involved at earlier stages.

 

The Anti-Corruption Headquarters supports this possibility, but calls for vaccination to be given to the elderly and those with concomitant diseases in priority.

 

The Anti-Corruption Headquarters continues to record violations of the Road Map

 

In order to effectively use the vaccine, vaccination with residual doses of "public figures" has been carried out in Ukraine since March 1. As no clear criteria for such figures have been established, this has created a basis for numerous abuses.

 

After criticism from the public, on April 16, this practice was abolished by order of the Ministry of Health.

 

At the same time, the Anti-Corruption Headquarters in the course of monitoring social networks continues to record cases of vaccination of people who are public figures, but are not included in any of the risk groups.

 

In particular, 20.04. Astra-Zeneca vaccine was used to vaccinate Tetyana Etvesh, a deputy of the Vyshkivka village council in Zakarpattia.

 

On the same day, Bohdan Halaida, a public activist from Odesa, was vaccinated.

 

The Anti-Corruption Headquarters calls on the Ministry of Health to monitor compliance with the Roadmap more closely and, if necessary, make changes to it that will create a legal opportunity for everyone to be vaccinated (as a matter of priority).