WHO warns that there may be a shortage of vaccine syringes

The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that there may be a shortage of the type of syringes used to inoculate vaccines due to the unexpected demand caused by the global immunization campaign against COVID-19, which could delay vaccination programs in different parts of the world.

A few weeks after completing a year since the COVID-19 vaccines began to be administered, the doses applied exceed 6.8 billion, which represents twice the number of vaccines that were inoculated each year worldwide and which implies that for this end requires three times as many syringes as before.

“Unfortunately, the possibility of a shortage of syringes is real“Said the WHO expert on access to medicines and health products Lisa Hedman in a dialogue with journalists in Geneva.

The annual production capacity of syringes is 6,000 million units, which makes the WHO estimate that the deficit could be 1 billion to 2 billion syringes in 2022 if something is not done about it.

Hedman argued that a solution could be to shift production capacity from one type of syringe to another in order to have a greater supply of those dedicated to vaccines, although without neglecting those needed to treat diseases.

A total of 16 billion syringes were used annually worldwide (among those for vaccines and medical treatments), but COVID-19 has pushed that demand to 22 billion.

The trade restrictions that have affected other products used in the fight against the pandemic, plus the cargo transport problems that have been seen recently, raise fears that exports of syringes will decrease.

Another aspect that worries WHO is the possibility that risky practices will be resumed, in particular the reuse of syringes and needles, a situation that has been registered each time these products have been lacking.

“This is a problem for all countries, but it is true that countries with limited purchasing power are always the most affected.”Hedman stressed.

The WHO has sounded this alarm at the possibility that syringes and needles will become the new symbol of the disparity between rich and poor, as personal safety equipment (gloves, masks, goggles and protective suits), which were in short supply especially in the poorest countries.

The same has happened with vaccines against COVID-19, which have been distributed by pharmaceutical companies based on the purchasing power of the countries.