The Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has alleged that Rajasthan Government has wasted 11.5 lakh doses of the coronavirus vaccine.

The state government refuted this claim and said that the state’s vaccine wastage is about 2% which is far below the permissible level of 10%.

Vaccine wastage refers to the number of doses wasted as compared to those administered during the drive. "The national average vaccine wastage is 6 per cent. The Government of India has allowed for 10 per cent vaccine wastage," Dr Raghu Sharma said.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri took a dig at the Congress by saying, "Just a few days back a Congress veteran with several great deeds to his credit demanded an audit of domestic vaccine manufacturers and today **** has hit the fan in Rajasthan where the Govt had to order an audit after 11.5 lakh doses were found wasted."

Principal secretary medical and health Akhil Arora refuted a media report about the wastage of vaccines. He, however, directed the district collectors concerned to conduct a special audit of vaccination at the places highlighted in the news report.

Referring to news reports that vaccine vials were thrown into garbage dumps, the union minister said Rajasthan should learn from Kerala which has done a good job of vaccination and wasted very few doses.

Shekhawat also attacked the Ashok Gehlot-led government over the vaccination drive.

"The state government first asked for permission to vaccinate 18 years and above age group at its level. Then creates a drama of global tender. When they were unsuccessful, the Congress government started blaming the Centre," he told reporters in a virtual press conference. PTI AG/SDA SMN SMN