The newly-obtained data shows a better picture of this waste statewide. "As with any vaccine distribution, it is anticipated that there will be minor accidents resulting in vaccine being discarded due to expiration or broken vials, but health care providers have been working hard to ensure all vaccines are used and stored properly," a NCDHHS spokesperson wrote to the I-Team in an email. NCDHHS said it has not received any reports of significant batches being lost. COVID-19 vaccine providers are required to report all doses that are "unused, spoiled, expired or wasted," due to the limited supply nationwide. "Over the course of any large-scale vaccination effort, a small number of doses may be lost inadvertently, such as a dropped syringe on floor, however, data on wasted vaccine is an essential metric for state and federal health agencies storage and handling procedures to maintain COVID-19 vaccine cold chain and minimize the likelihood of vaccine loss or damage during shipment," an NCDHHS spokesperson wrote in an email.