On the 2nd, a public health center staff member is placing Pfizer vaccines (195 vials) into the vaccine refrigerator at the COVID-19 2nd Vaccination Center installed at the Dongjak-gu Citizens Sports Center in Sindebang-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] Since the start of COVID-19 vaccinations in South Korea, more than 8,300 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been discarded over the past four months due to careless vaccine management.
On the 2nd, Jo Myung-hee, a member of the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee (People Power Party), analyzed data on the "quantity and causes of discarded vaccines" received from the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team and revealed that since vaccinations began on February 26 until the 1st, a total of 921 vials were discarded in 192 cases due to reasons such as careless management.
Among the discarded vaccines, AstraZeneca (AZ) accounted for the largest number with 715 vials, followed by Pfizer with 188 vials, and Janssen with 18 vials. One vial of AZ contains 10 doses and is enough for 5 people (2 doses each), one vial of Pfizer contains 6 doses and is enough for 3 people (2 doses each), and one vial of Janssen contains 5 doses and is enough for 5 people (1 dose each). Accordingly, Representative Jo estimated that a total of 8,368 doses of vaccines were discarded without being administered.
Out of the 192 cases of vaccine disposal, 161 were reportedly due to staff "carelessness." Many cases involved forgetting to close the refrigerator door where vaccines were stored, or accidentally unplugging the refrigerator, as seen in Gwangju. There were also cases where faulty power strips were used in vaccine storage refrigerators. Vaccines discarded due to failure to maintain the proper temperature totaled 796 vials, equivalent to about 7,000 doses.
Additionally, about 97 vials (approximately 970 doses) were rendered unusable due to container breakage while transferring vaccines. There were also about 36 cases of disposal caused by refrigerator malfunctions and poor power supply within hospitals. Three cases involved refrigerators failing to function properly due to faulty circuit breakers.
Representative Jo stated, "In a situation where every vial of vaccine is precious, there should be no cases of vaccine disposal due to management errors," and urged, "Health authorities and local governments must re-examine vaccine storage and vaccination administration to establish measures that prevent vaccine wastage."
Meanwhile, on the 29th of last month, a staff member at the Buk-gu Health Center in Gwangju accidentally left 172 vials of Pfizer vaccine, intended for use that day, out of the refrigerator while thawing them, exposing about 1,000 doses (172 vials) to room temperature (approximately 25 degrees Celsius) for about 14 hours. Pfizer vaccines can be stored refrigerated at 2?8 degrees Celsius for up to 31 days but must be used within 2 hours at room temperature. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has determined that these vaccines are unusable and plans to retrieve them.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
