COVID-19 vaccination wastage statistics: FOI release

Information requested

1. How many doses of Astra-zeneca vaccine have been wasted since the vaccine programme began?

2. How many doses of Moderna vaccine have been wasted since the vaccine programme began?

3. How many doses of Pfizer have been wasted since the vaccine programme began?

4. Why has Public Health Scotland stopped publishing this information in their weekly reports?

Response

The answers to your questions are:

The single source of vaccination wastage data for Scotland is through an online wastage reporting form (NSS Service Now). This is populated by health board clinical staff which can impact timeliness and accuracy. Information is not collected on wastage of vaccines in GPs practices. Given these limitations, the reported figures may be an under estimate.

1. Since the beginning of the vaccination programme, the total volume of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine (Vaxzevria) that has been reported as wasted due to product expiry via the online wastage form (NSS Service Now; data extracted by NSS 9th February) is 39,121 doses.

2. Since the beginning of the vaccination programme, the total volume of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (Spikevax) that has been reported as wasted due to product expiry via the online wastage form (NSS Service Now; data extracted by NSS 9th February) is 22,042 doses.

3. Since the beginning of the vaccination programme, the total volume of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine (Comirnaty) that has been reported as wasted due to product expiry via the online wastage form (NSS Service Now; data extracted by NSS 9th February) is 57,566 doses.

4. Since mid-October, PHS have changed their publication schedule and now routinely published vaccine wastage data on a monthly basis. It is published online in the Public Health Scotland COVID-19 Statistical Report, and the latest report with a monthly waste update was published 19 January 2022, link below. The next update will be mid-February.

COVID-19 statistical report - 19 January 2022 - COVID-19 statistical report - Publications - Public Health Scotland

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.