Vaccine rollout poses big threat in Telangana

Hyderabad: Lack of policy for health centres across the state for disposal of bio-medical waste once the Covid vaccine is rolled out and vaccination begins can prove to be a new health problem. Covid-19 vaccine injections will be given from the designated PHCs and UPHCs in 33 districts.

According to officials, Covid vaccine will be in the form of injections and every person will have to take two shots in a gap of 28 days.

Just as it is important to store the vaccine in minus 20 degrees temperature, it is equally important to discard the used vials and syringes in a proper manner. In many districts, the lifting of bio-medical waste on a daily basis is not there. There are complaints that the contractors have not been paid their dues.

Before Covid came into the picture, PHCs somehow managed waste disposal by burning it in pits dug in their premises or release of some funds following intervention of the district collector to clear the waste. However, the burning of PPE kits and used testing kits was strongly opposed by local residents next to PHCs in some districts.

Medical officers laid emphasis on having a state-wide bio-medical waste disposal policy for health centres under the Directorate of Health. But so far it has not been done. As of now there are no guidelines issued to the PHCs for safe disposal of vials and needles.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel directed the Chief Secretary of States and Union Territories to closely monitor the scientific storage, transport, handling, management and disposal of Covid-19 waste. But what exactly is scientific management of bio-medical waste is not clear, according to health officials.