A recently obtained access-to-information request reveals that 523,237 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been discarded by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Department of Health and Community Services since December 2020.
Of the discarded COVID-19 vaccines, 407,454 doses were discarded due to expiry and 15,783 doses due to wastage.
Moderna accounts for 72,635 of the expired doses, Moderna Bivalent for 56,429, Pfizer for 243,201, and Pfizer infant for 12,512.
Moderna accounts for 3,529 of the wasted doses, Pfizer for 4,102, Pfizer 5-11rs for 2,929, and Pfizer Bivalent for 2,201.
Expired vaccines were determined by the manufacturer’s expiry date, and wastage included vaccines that encountered a transport problem, storage and/or handling issue, meaning the vial was not punctured, it expired or had a problem identified before it could be used.
Download the ATIPP file below:
Matt Barter is a fourth-year student in the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty at Memorial University of Newfoundland, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. He enjoys reading thought-provoking articles, walks in nature, and volunteering in the community.
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