(Belga) The World Health Organization (WHO) warns of a shortage of syringes to place the corona vaccine. There is fear of a shortage of 1 to 2 billion syringes, said WHO specialist Lisa Hedman from Geneva on Tuesday. She especially sees problems for poorer and small countries that only place small orders and are therefore not a priority for the producers.
The UN organization therefore calls on its member states to plan and order in the long term, so that manufacturers can increase their capacity. In general, a turnaround time of six months is required. In addition, the WHO asks that countries that donate vaccines immediately supply the syringes. To date, 6.8 billion COVID vaccines have already been deployed worldwide, almost double the number of “routine vaccines”. About 6 billion syringes for vaccines are produced every year. That means there could be a shortage of 1 to 2 billion syringes by 2022, unless enough factories adjust and start producing this type of syringe. If there are not enough syringes available, this can lead to the fact that the routine vaccines, for example against mumps, measles or rubella, are no longer placed. That would have disastrous consequences for children, Hedman said. (Belgium)
The UN organization therefore calls on its member states to plan and order in the long term, so that manufacturers can increase their capacity. In general, a turnaround time of six months is required. In addition, the WHO asks that countries that donate vaccines immediately supply the syringes. To date, 6.8 billion COVID vaccines have already been deployed worldwide, almost double the number of “routine vaccines”. About 6 billion syringes for vaccines are produced every year. That means there could be a shortage of 1 to 2 billion syringes by 2022, unless enough factories adjust and start producing this type of syringe. If there are not enough syringes available, this can lead to the fact that the routine vaccines, for example against mumps, measles or rubella, are no longer placed. That would have disastrous consequences for children, Hedman said. (Belgium)
–
