The World Health Organization has warned that there may be a shortage of the type of syringes used to inoculate vaccines given the unexpected demand that the global immunization campaign against Covid-19 has brought, which could delay vaccination programs in different parts of the world.
A few weeks after the first year since the vaccines began, applied doses exceed 6,800 million, which represents double of all the vaccines that were inoculated each year worldwide and that implies that for this purpose, three times as many syringes are required than 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 leads the WHO to estimate that the deficit could be 1 to 2 billion syringes by 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 that are needed to treat diseases.
A total of 16 billion syringes were used annually worldwide (among those for vaccines and medical treatments), but the Covid has pushed that demand up to 22,000 million.
Trade restrictions that have affected other products used in the fight against the pandemic, plus the cargo transportation problems that have been seen recently, make fears that syringe exports will decrease.
Another aspect that worries WHO is the possibility of unsafe practices being resumed, in particular the reuse of syringes and needles, a situation that has been recorded each time these products have been missing.
“This is a problem for all countries, but it is true that countries with limited purchasing power they 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, which have been distributed by pharmaceutical companies based on the purchasing power of the countries.
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
